Valentine's Day clashes with Chinese New Year — here are ways to soothe your partner’s heart

The Valentine’s Day set menu at Taiyuan The Millennium Taipei remains luxurious and indulgent, priced at NT$2,899 per person + 10%. (Photo / The Millennium Taipei)

This Valentine’s limited-edition cocktail comes in an ultra-cute swan-shaped glass. When two are combined, they form a heart shape — romance at its peak. Priced at NT$350 per glass. (Photo / Asia 49 Asian Cuisine & Lounge)

Asia 49 Asian Cuisine & Lounge is located high above the city, with breathtaking Taipei night views right below. (Photo / Asia 49 Asian Cuisine & Lounge)

This year, Lunar Chinese New Year arrives late, with New Year’s Eve falling on February 15th in the Gregorian calendar. That means Western Valentine’s Day on February 14th will directly follow the holiday break, creating the interesting situation of celebrating love and then immediately ushering in the New Year. Due to this overlap in festive schedules, the Valentine’s market this year has been somewhat subdued. Not only have major hotels offered fewer Valentine’s promotions, but the flower and gift markets have also seen lukewarm demand.

Online discussions are clearly divided into two camps. Some believe going home for the holidays should take priority, saying: “As long as you’re with the right person, every day is Valentine’s Day,” and have decided to focus on family this year. Another viewpoint is to combine Valentine’s Day with the New Year, stating bluntly, “This is the perfect time to bring your girlfriend home to meet the parents.”

Of course, some businesses are going against the trend by launching special Valentine’s offers. Located in Taichung, The Millennium Taipei is renowned for its luxurious and top-tier cuisine. This year, Valentine’s once again features "Wagyu" and "lobster" as embodiments of Cupid, aiming to convey deep affection.

The Valentine’s set menu highlights Australian full-blood Black Angus AA9+ wagyu as the main dish, accompanied by luxury ingredients such as foie gras, Boston lobster, and Hokkaido scallops. The dessert “Love Apple” resembles a bright red apple — the outer layer is coated with chocolate, while the inside contains an apple cider-flavored mousse and diced apples marinated with green plum flavor. The bottom layer features crispy Earl Grey tea biscuits. It not only delivers a sweet-and-sour taste that echoes romance, but also offers visual and flavor surprises.

There are a few essential elements for Valentine’s Day that shouldn’t be overlooked. Aside from gourmet food and fine wine, a night view can truly win someone’s heart. On Valentine’s Day, you might also choose to take your partner to the highest building in Banqiao, New Taipei City — Taipei 101’s neighboring building, Banyan Tree Taipei. Floors 48 to 50 each house an independent restaurant, all offering stunning views of Taipei’s night skyline. These three restaurants have launched special Valentine’s events. Among them, the most recommended is “Asia 49 Asian Cuisine & Lounge” on the 49th floor.

The skilled mixology team at “Asia 49 Asian Cuisine & Lounge” has specially crafted two Valentine’s cocktails — one for men called “Peanut Suit & Maple Pancake” and another for women named “Swan Neck’s Elegant Gown.” The former mixes gin with maple syrup, sears peanut butter tableside, delivering a rich and seductive aroma. The latter uses homemade Earl Grey syrup mixed with fragrant gin and fresh dragonfruit puree, resulting in a vibrant and enchanting drink color.

★ China Times reminds you that excessive drinking is harmful to your health.