Celebrate a Full Day of Valentine's Adventures in Placencia!

From the Fire Hearth: Your expert guide to all things edible in Belize.

By LYRA SPANG Owner, anthropologist & tour guide, Taste Belize tastebelize@gmail.com

What could be more romantic than Valentine’s Day in paradise? And how do we go about making this Thursday, Feb. 14 even more special? Yes … We all know about the classic special dinner out, and we will get to that, but remember, Valentine’s Day begins at sunrise!

The Right Morning Start: Whether you are your own Valentine’s date or you have someone else by your side, start the day right with a Belizean seaweed shake (reputed to give the love muscles all the energy they need) at The Shak Beach Cafe or Brewed Awakenings. Or, you may want to enjoy a cup of perfectly brewed coffee at Above Grounds Coffee Shop paired with a cinnamon glazed doughnut or a slice of their delicious banana bread for that sweet touch. And if you prefer to take in a hearty Belizean breakfast with a glorious beach view and a side of fried jacks, a seat inside the D’Tatch restaurant or Cozy Corner is just the thing!

Try combining espresso with your seaweed milkshake for one hell of a Valentine's Day jump start.

(Courtesy of BREWED AWAKENINGS)

Chocolate Aphrodisiacs

And what better way to spend the day itself than exploring beautiful Belize? Consider a trip to Ixcacao Maya Belizean Chocolate, where every day is Valentine’s Day! Here we learn all about the origins of chocolate, arguably one of the world’s most romantic treats, and get to make our own from the tree to the bar, all the while indulging in Maya style hot chocolate and loads of delicious aphrodisiac samples!

Amp up the chocolate-for-Valentine's experience with a bean to bar educational session.

(Courtesy of TASTE BELIZE)

Island Escape: Prefer an island getaway? Book a private tour with one of Placencia’s expert sea captains. Imagine spending this Valentine’s Day downing grilled lobster and rum punch while lounging in a hammock with your loved one after snorkeling along our world famous reefs! You may even want to consider an overnight cabin stay at Ranguana Caye or a day snorkeling and hammocking at Moho Caye or lunch and kayaking at Ray Caye Island Resort.

Aspen and Ernie visiting from Los Angeles take a moment for relaxation and romance at Moho Caye.

JOLIE POLLARD

Add hammock lounging while spying on your bae to your island getaway to-do list.

JOLIE POLLARD

Bakadeer Tranquility: And how about that extra-happy, Happy Hour? Yoli’s Bar in the lesser known and tranquil Bakadeer area of Placencia Village is perfect for the boating crowd. Hear all the latest from sailors anchored in the harbor while enjoying a cold one at this thatch roof bar on the water. You can always venture out to one of the picnic tables on the dock for a little alone time too, and if you want a dock all to yourself, check out Captain Pete’s next door, which will be closed, as they only open from Fridays to Sundays. Don’t forget to stop in at Merl’s Café on shore for one of her popular pastries such as a slice of scrumptious lemon meringue pie or carrot cake.

Belikins for two? Visit the Bakadeer area in the vicinity of Yoli's Bar and Paradise Vacation Hotel for dirty sailor talk and even a little alone time on the bar docks.

(Courtesy of Yoli's Bar)

Make the Cocktail Beach- Sidewalk Circuit at Tipsy Tuna, Barefoot and Afrodite: Barefoot Beach Bar and Tipsy Tuna Seaside and Sports Bar need no introduction as two of Placencia Village’s most popular drinking spots where locals and visitors rub shoulders on a beautiful beach front. Indulge in your frozen cocktail fantasies here and just a few footsteps away from Tipsy, there is the new Afrodite Caffe and Bar. This unique spot that has a funky art installation atmosphere where you can try expertly crafted cocktails prepared with rum that is micro-distilled right here on Placencia Peninsula by well-known local character Frankie Gagliano and his crew. (Editor’s Note: Read more about Afrodite in our feature article by Shaylene Todd in our January 2019 issue.)

Extend Cocktail Hour to the Road Front: Continue into the evening with more special cocktails using house crafted fruit infusions at ChaChi’s! (Go for the passionfruit.) The pizzeria that is lit up with bright pink and blue lights along the Placencia Road is rapidly becoming a favorite destination to catch Belize’s finest local acts too, but you’ll just have to wait 24 hours to dance the night away to the famous Gilharry 7 Band scheduled to perform Caribbean favorites on their upper deck on Friday, Feb. 15. If a Jimmy Buffet hangout is more of your vibe, you'll want to venture a short walk over to The Pickled Parrot.

Just a short walk south of ChaChi’s is the Little Wine Bar, a perfect spot to get cozy. Start your evening with wines by the bottle or glass and try tasty charcuterie platters to share with friends, lovers or enjoy all by yourself!

Go solo or take your date for a treat to a charcuterie platter paired with the vino of your choice at The Little Wine Bar.

KEVIN W. QUISCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Want to try my personal favorite happy hour location? Just head a little further south to the beach by the Placencia Municipal Pier with a bottle of your choosing and seek out dolphins feeding in the harbor, as you watch the sun setting over the Maya Mountains and playing rainbow games with the clouds above.

Lyra's personal happy hour location? The Point. Catch a killer sunset − and maybe a few frolicking dolphins too − from the Placencia Peninsula Pier or across the water at the reopened Tranquilo Sunset Lounge.

JOELLE GODFREY

The Romantic Dinner Spots: Now the biggest question of all: Where to dine? Maya Beach Bistro puts on a special Valentine’s Day feast every year with a multi-course menu including wine pairings. Make sure to reserve your table for this spectacular meal, as seats always sell out in advance. Rumfish y Vino, La Dolce Vita, Turtle Inn Resort, Mariposa Beach Suites and Secret Garden restaurants in Placencia Village usually offer Valentine’s Day specials as well. For a new dining experience in a beautiful location north of the village, consider dinner at 1981 Restaurant, located on the grounds of Naia Resort and Spa. Arrive early for a walk along their serene beach front before cocktails and a meal in their beautiful dining room on the second floor. Laru Beya Resort also offers a beautiful beach location for a romantic stroll before dinner at their Quarter Deck Restaurant. And at the Belize Ocean Club and Robert’s Grove Resort, you can choose to dine on the beach or along the lagoon side. For more seafront locations that offer an intimate dining experience (even if it means grabbing a table in a corner or the back of the room), also consider the Green Parrot Beach House, Singing Sands Inn and Mango’s in Maya Beach, Lost Reef Resort in Riversdale and Paradise Vacation Resort in Placencia.

One of the newer resorts on the Peninsula boasting one of the most serene locations to complement its famed Spa, is Naia near Maya Beach. Enjoy a special dinner at 1981 after a stroll through their impeccably manicured property.

(Photo courtesy of Naia Resort and Spa)

And for a More Casual Valentine's Dinner ... For a more laid back vibe, bring your own drinks to the new upstairs balcony at Omar’s Creole Grub in the heart of Placencia Village, where you can people watch with your sweetie. Enjoy world class Belizean style seafood at Omar’s and also at Dawn’s Grill, where you can order a craft cocktail like the tasty tamarind whiskey sour to accompany your meal. I once spent a very pleasant Valentine’s Day at Rick’s Café on the sidewalk with a glass of red wine and personal thin crust pizza. Wendy’s Restaurant on the main road will also be offering an array of seafood and meat dishes, and the new Yucatan Taco Stand next to Rumfish is a must-stop for the best deals in town on frozen drinks!

If you love lobster as much as you love your love, make sure to order some, as the lobster fishing season closes the day after Valentine’s Day! As for a casual dessert experience, savor world class gelato available in a range of tropical and classic flavours at Tutti Frutti. Share a cone with your soul mate or enjoy having one all to yourself!

People watch and enjoy your last lobster dinner in the new balcony seating area of Omar's.

(Photo courtesy of Omar's Creole Grub)

Late Night Bar Hopping and Munchies: If Valentine’s Day drinking is on your schedule, and it’s a late night snack that you need, remember that Barefoot and Tipsy Tuna kitchens stay open until 11 p.m.. Smoked fish dip and smoked chicken nachos are my top favorites at Barefoot where you can enjoy reggae night on Valentine’s, while Tipsy, which will be rocking out some karaoke, is justifiably famous for its wings served with a variety of tasty dipping sauces. Both bars offer full entrees as well if you need a big meal at a late hour. Placencia is well known for great food, and you won’t go wrong to dine at any restaurant, big or small, in the village. Consider this month’s column as a short intro to some of the dining options available on our beautiful Placencia Peninsula.▪

Consider making it a Valentine's Day weekend. Don't miss a night of dancing at Belize Ocean Club, Tipsy Tuna Seaside Bar, Barefoot Beach Bar or at Cha Chi's.

MUZAMANZIE PHOTOGRAPHS/The Placencia Mistletoe Ball, Belize Ocean Club, 2015

MUZAMANZIE PHOTOGRAPHS/The Placencia Mistletoe Ball, Belize Ocean Club, 2015

About the Author: Lyra Spang is owner/guide of Taste Belize Tours, a unique cultural & culinary tour company. She researches & writes about food whenever she can. tastebelize. com/ tastebelize@ gmail.com.