Local stores spread the love for Valentine's Day


Flowers and candy have been associated with Valentine's Day for hundreds of years, and sometimes, it's best to stick with what is tried and true. Choose from a romantic floral arrangement, decadent chocolates or an elegant dining experience, or go for the whole trifecta! Here are a few local options to help get you get inspired to spoil your loved one on Valentine's Day.
Flowers and gifts from Monroe Floral
Monroe Floral (113 W. McDougall St.) has been serving Monroe since 1946 with fresh, hand-crafted floral arrangements. Owner Jennifer Wirt takes pride in her work. A longtime Monroe resident, Wirt offers a selection of Valentine's Day-themed bouquets that vary in price, from economical to extravagant.


Wirt has classically beautiful arrangements featuring red roses and fragrant stargazer lilies and sunshiny ensembles filled with yellow blossoms and interspersed with bright bursts of violet and fuchsia.
For customers who are interested in something a little more custom, Wirt is able to design a unique piece of floral art. She carries a variety of snuggly plush critters that can be added to an arrangement, as well as locally made gifts, like candles, soaps and lotions.
Wirt said she strives to create lasting bouquets that will continue to bloom for days after they leave her store.
For more information on Monroe Floral, visit www.monroefloral.com/ or call 360-794-7001. Delivery orders during holidays like Valentine's Day must be placed in advance.
Chocolates from Galaxy Chocolates in Sultan
Spice up the holiday with truffles and homemade caramels made by Galaxy Chocolates' Owner Kathryne Paz. When experimenting with different flavor profiles, Paz enjoys delving into the sweet and the savory, as well as the downright unconventional. She carries 42 different sea salt varieties, including spicy curry, chili and cayenne pepper; her bacon-topped sea salt caramels are covered in either milk or dark chocolate.
If your loved one doesn't like to mix up their sweet and salty, Galaxy Chocolates offers creative caramel flavors, like cookies and cream, nutter butter, red velvet, apple cider and root beer float. Paz's English toffee caramels are filled with handmade English toffee, giving the smooth candy an added crunch.


For her new shortbread cookie truffles, Paz prepared the shortbread cookies so they would be ultra-thin and then mixed bits of cookie into the chocolate.
Paz also carries a variety of alcohol-themed treats, including champagne truffles and numerous beer-flavored caramels such as Black Butte porter, Blue Moon beer, Hefeweizen, black and tan, Red Hook IPA and raspberry beer caramel.
For more information on Galaxy Chocolates (501 Main St.), visit www.facebook.com/GalaxyChocolates, or call 360-863-6265.
Fine dining at Sockeye's
Open since 2007, Sockeye's Restaurant & Bar (14090 Fryelands Blvd. S.E.) offers classic lakeside dining with tempting desserts. Situated at the north end of Lake Tye, diners enjoy pleasant views while enjoying freshly prepared steak and seafood. Gluten-free options are also available.
The extensive wine list features local wines from Washington and throughout the Northwest. Selections include Snoqualmie Syrah, North Star Merlot and Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling.
Sockeye's has several Valentine's Day specials on the menu, including grilled, wild Alaskan Sockeye salmon with house-made sundried tomato butter, house-cut top sirloin flame-grilled and topped with lobster tail chunks, oven-roasted bone-in pork chop with apple rosemary and ginger glaze, Prawn Rockefeller Florentine in a light cream sauce, sashimi-grade ahi tuna seared rare and finished with a pineapple ginger salsa and a 12-ounce cut of slow-roasted prime rib served with au jus.
Reservations for holidays like Valentine's Day are highly recommended. The Valentine's Day dinner specials will be available from Thursday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 15. For more information on Sockeye's,-รก visit www.sockeyesrestaurant.com or call 360-794-8300.

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