THE HOT FIVE Valentine's Day celebrations don't always require a reservation.
BIG BOWL
Turn up the heat on your romance with a few V-Day specials from this bright spot in the world of chain restaurants, including pork dumplings with a Thai chile sauce, halibut sauteed in Thai chiles and ginger and a chocolate mousse infused with dried chiles.
The Galleria in Edina, 952-928-7888; 1705 Hwy. 36 in Rosedale, Roseville, 651-636-7173; and 12649 Wayzata Blvd. in Ridgedale, Minnetonka, 952-797-9888, bigbowl.com
CAFE LATTE
Pick up some pink buttercream-crowned cupcakes or a few slices of the bakery's signature triple-layer turtle cake and head home, or stay, skip the crowds in the front cafeteria, take a seat in the rear (and much more mellow) wine bar and enjoy a pizza and wine.
850 Grand Av., St. Paul, 651-224-5687, cafelatte.com
CANDYLAND
The shop's annual nod to Valentine's Day continues in 2009, with fresh strawberries dipped in white, milk or dark chocolate for $14.99 per pound.
27 S. 7th St., Mpls., 612-332-7752 and 435 N. Wabasha St., St. Paul, 651-292-1191, candylandstore.com
JAY'S CAFE
Toast your sweetie with bottomless Mimosas ($5) over a sweetheart's breakfast at Jay Randolph's cozy cafe, paired with the weekend menu's pork hash topped with poached eggs, apples-and-caramel-topped French toast, curried chicken salad and pesto-chicken pizza.
