Valentine's Day is Sydney's most-booked-out restaurant night. Every good venue was locked in by January. The ones left with tables at 8:45pm are the ones nobody wants. You spend $250 on a set menu you did not choose, get rushed through three courses, and pay a surcharge for the privilege. Then you Uber home and end the evening with someone else's dishes in your mind.
The better Valentine's Day is at home. Candles, playlist, no time pressure, no valet parking, no watching the couple at the next table fight through the appetiser. And the food, if you set it up right, is genuinely better than what you would have paid $250 for.
Quick answer
For Valentine's Day at home in Sydney, an Argentinian dinner for two is simple: a 12-pack of empanadas ($52), Franui for dessert, a bottle of Malbec, chimichurri on the side. Order the empanadas frozen a day or two ahead, bake them 18 to 22 minutes at 190C the night of. Total spend under $120, restaurant-quality without the reservation stress. Delivery Sydney-wide from our Bondi Beach kitchen.
The case for cooking at home on the 14th
Every restaurant metric on Valentine's Day is worse than a normal Friday. Tables turn twice, so service is rushed. Set menus mean you eat what they cook that night, not what you feel like. Wine markups on the day are often steeper. And the atmosphere, no matter how good the venue, is fifty first-date couples silently competing to look the most in love while the room resents them for booking.
Home is the answer. It is quieter, cheaper, more intimate, and the food is only limited by your willingness to plan two days ahead. Empanadas make that plan trivial. Order online. Freeze. Bake. Eat.
The menu for two
Starter
Four empanadas as the opening course. A mix of Habibi Yalla (Argentinian-Lebanese spiced beef) and Patagonia (vegan mushroom, spinach, kale, carrot, garlic, onion, potato cheese) is a beautiful contrast: warm-spiced and earthy against clean and green. If you want the full sampler, the Chef's Box ($85) gives you four of each of the five flavours to graze across the night.
Chimichurri
One jar of our chimichurri ($12) on the side. Parsley, garlic, oregano, olive oil, red wine vinegar, chilli. Spoon it generously over each empanada as you eat.
Main
Six to eight empanadas across your favourite flavours. If you both love beef, four Carnivore and two Athlete. If one is vegetarian, four Classic and two Patagonia. If you want the crowd-pleaser mix, one of each of the five flavours (Carnivore, Athlete, Classic, Patagonia, Habibi Yalla) plus two extra of the one you both keep going back to.
Dessert
Franui. Argentinian frozen raspberries in a shell of white, milk and dark chocolate. Serve straight from the freezer in a small bowl. Six each is plenty. Order a case, keep the rest in the freezer for future date nights.
Wine
A Mendoza Malbec. This is the traditional Argentinian pairing for empanadas and the reason it is traditional is that it works. Full-bodied enough to stand up to beef, soft enough not to overwhelm the vegan or cheese flavours. A good mid-range Mendoza Malbec ranges from $22 to $45 at Dan Murphy's or your local Sydney wine shop. For something more special, look for a Mendoza reserve.
The full shopping list and cost
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12-pack empanadas | $52 | Mix your favourite flavours |
| Chimichurri jar | $12 | Reusable across meals |
| Case of Franui | ~$18 to $22 | Enough for two Valentine's plus leftovers |
| Bottle of Malbec | $25 to $45 | Buy from Dan Murphy's or local |
| Delivery (frozen) | $10 | Standard Sydney flat rate |
| Total for two | Approx $120 | Compare to $250 to $400 for two at a restaurant |
Timing plan
Do not leave this to the day. Here is the sequence.
- Two weeks before Valentine's Day. Place your order with us. Add a case of Franui.
- Three to five business days later. Order arrives frozen. Store empanadas and Franui in the freezer immediately.
- Two days before. Buy the wine. Malbec benefits from a night open before you drink it, so pull the cork the evening before if you want.
- The day of. Move empanadas from freezer to fridge in the morning so they thaw evenly (or bake from frozen, adding four to six minutes to the bake time).
- Ninety minutes before dinner. Set the oven to 190C. Preheat while you set the table.
- Thirty minutes before dinner. Empanadas in the oven. Bake 18 to 22 minutes from thawed, 24 to 28 from frozen, until golden and glossy.
- Serve. Plate on your best boards, spoon chimichurri generously, pour the Malbec, sit down.
Setting the scene
Empanadas plated well look genuinely luxurious. Use a wooden board or dark plate to make the golden pastry pop. Chimichurri in a small ceramic dish next to the board. A folded linen napkin. Candles low. Playlist quiet enough to talk over. Reserve the second round of empanadas in the oven on the lowest heat setting so they stay warm for the mains after you have finished the starters.
The Franui trick: bring them out in a bowl set inside a slightly bigger bowl of ice. They soften slightly out of the freezer, which is exactly the texture you want. Do not skip the ice bowl underneath, or the last few will be too soft.
What NOT to overcomplicate
The temptation on Valentine's Day is to build a multi-course marathon: canapes, starter, palate cleanser, main, cheese course, dessert, digestif. Skip it. Two people cannot eat all of that. Empanadas, chimichurri, wine, Franui. Four things. That is the menu.
If you want to add one thing, add a simple bright green salad (rocket, pear, walnut, parmesan, lemon dressing) between the starter and main. Do not add anything else. The whole point of this Valentine's Day format is that you spent your evening looking at your partner, not managing a kitchen.
The lightweight alternative
If you want to test-drive the concept before going full menu, the lightweight version is a 4-pack ($18), one chimichurri jar ($12), and a cheese board with a bottle of Malbec. Total: around $30 for the food, plus wine. It is a great Wednesday-night date, and a good sanity check on whether the full Valentine's version will hit for you.
Ready to plan your Valentine's Day at home? Order a 12-pack of empanadas, add chimichurri and Franui, and pick your Malbec. See more Argentinian pairing ideas in the journal.
FAQ
What wine pairs best with empanadas?
Malbec from Mendoza is the classic pairing and the safest recommendation for a mixed flavour spread. For vegan or vegetarian-only menus, a Pinot Noir also works. For Athlete (chicken and green olives), a Chardonnay is a lovely white alternative.
Can I bake the empanadas in advance?
You can bake earlier in the day and reheat gently, but they are at their absolute best straight from the oven. Bake 30 minutes before you sit down for the best texture.
What are the best flavours for a romantic dinner?
Habibi Yalla (spiced, unusual, memorable) and Patagonia (rich, earthy, beautiful) as the standout pair. Classic (three cheeses) is the crowd-pleaser. Carnivore is the classic centrepiece if you both eat beef.
What is a vegan Valentine's dinner option?
A 12-pack of Patagonia (all vegan), one chimichurri jar (also vegan), a case of Franui for dessert (check labels), and a bottle of vegan-friendly Malbec. Total under $120 and completely plant-based.
How many empanadas do I need for two people?
10 to 12 empanadas across the meal, so a 12-pack is exactly right. Six each is a proper dinner. If you plan a starter, main and grazing, go to a Chef's Box (24) so you have leftovers.
How long from order to delivery?
Frozen orders typically arrive in 3 to 5 business days across Sydney. Order 10 to 14 days before Valentine's Day to give yourself buffer.
What are your Sydney delivery windows?
Standard courier delivery Monday to Friday. Baked catering delivery is booked with a specific window. For a home Valentine's dinner, frozen delivery is what you want.
Do you offer a gift-wrapping option?
Not currently. If you are gifting a Valentine's box, add a handwritten note in the order comments and we will include it. For a full gift experience, add a chimichurri jar and Franui, and present as a curated Argentinian dinner kit.
0 comments