Six of our favourite ways to celebrate a loved one, vegan style.
Love is something to celebrate all year round, but there’s no question that Valentine’s Day gives us an extra excuse to express our appreciation for someone special in our lives. And what better way to honour the spirit of this celebration than with a gift or experience that loves the Earth and animals too!
With these vegan Valentine’s Day gift and date ideas, you can be sure you’re doing just that.
A fancy cocktail
Make a dreamy cocktail to sip together in your favourite peaceful setting, whether at home or in a special scenic spot, perhaps as part of a sunset picnic hamper.
Unsure what to make? We can’t go past La Vegana Fresca. This velvety-smooth concoction stars Licor 43 Horchata, a creamy vegan liqueur made on a base of tiger nuts. In this delicious recipe, it’s fused with the sweetness of pineapple and banana, along with pleasingly sharp notes of marmalade and espresso.
Image: Licor 43 Horchata
A homemade dinner for two
Pour your love into a thoughtfully prepared plant-based dinner for two. It doesn’t have to be difficult! Here’s a sample menu to get you inspired.
- Main: Green quinoa patties with tzatziki – and, to make it extra-special, be sure to include the edible flowers! We love the Aussie grown spray-free ones, such as those by Pretty Produce.
- Side: Beetroot, mint and pomegranate salad
- Dessert: Mango-melon sorbet
Image: Dean Drobot on Shutterstock
A meal out
Take your Valentine or Galentine out for a special plant-based brunch, lunch or dinner – and there’s bound to be somewhere near you that offers great options, whatever your pleasure. For some top recommended spots around the country, get inspired by Renee Buckingham in her article, We dine fine.
And to browse other options for the perfect venue near you, Happy Cow is a website and app providing listings and customer reviews of vegan, vegetarian and veg-friendly venues the world over. You’re virtually guaranteed to find something that fits the bill, wherever you are.
Image: Alibi Bar & Dining, Sydney
Conscious chocolate
A romantic classic for good reason, chocolates are a sweet and timeless way to treat your Valentine. The great news is, it’s easier than ever to find brands whose commitment to quality and taste is matched by their dedication to sustainability and compassion.
One we love is BSKT Wholefoods, a majority Indigenous-owned vegan venture looking to create circular economies in Aboriginal communities through purchase of native superfoods. With beautiful packaging created by proud Wiradjuri woman Katrina Graves, collections such as the 6 pack chocolate sampler make a delightful gift (available online and in selected stockists).
Image: BSKT Wholefoods
Homemade sweet treats
There’s nothing like homemade treats to show you care – and recipes abound for plant-based options to melt the heart of anyone you bake them for.
Here are three of our tried and true favourites:
Image: Love heart linzer cookies by Jade Woodd
Accessories to kindness
Make it beautiful and functional with a vegan accessory made from sustainable, fairly made, animal-free fabrics.
Vegan Style is a Fitzroy-based boutique with a lovingly curated range of ethical footwear and accessories, available in-store and online. From bags and belts to shoes, wallets, and more, they’ve done the hard work of sourcing the best brands and styles that meet their rigorous standards – making it a breeze to shop here, safe in the knowledge that your gift (to him, her, them – or you!) will tick all the boxes for quality and ethics.
Image: Rodica Vasiliev on Shutterstock
