Are you excited about the upcoming 14^th February feast of love and wine? If you are getting ready for the celebration here are some curious facts that you might enjoy.

Why do we give sweets to our sweethearts on Valentine’s Day and what is the history of this very special day? In the third century, St. Valentine was a Roman bishop who secretly granted marriages to soldiers and their sweethearts when it was banned. He was imprisoned for the crime and in his cell is where Valentine as we know it was born. As the legend goes, St. Valentine sent a letter to the daughter of his jailer and signed it “Your Valentine.” There was no candy included, but this is where the valentine’s tradition started.

The first written reference to St. Valentine’s traditions dates back to the 14th century when Geoffrey Chaucer mentioned it in one of his famous love poems. However, Shakespeare was the one to make the candy connection in Hamlet with the words “sweets to the sweet”.

Chocolate in any form is considered to be one of the most beloved gifts for Valentine’s Day. Cocoa is believed to be one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs used by the Aztecs. One of the early chocolate producers — Richard Cadbury — is widely considered the person responsible for making these solid chocolate treats a Valentine’s Day tradition. In the 1890s candies were packed in elaborately decorated boxes as a gift for loved ones.

Almost at the same time, another sweet love invention was made – the iconic “Conversation Candies” which later became conversation hearts were presented in New York. They carry love messages written on the coating, e.g. I Love You, Date Me, My Love, Ever After, etc.

In line with this beautiful and tasty tradition, Este Restaurant pastry chefs encourage you to manifest your love via our beautifully decorated St. Valentine’s cakes. And if you want the evening memorable you can also enjoy our very special St. Valentine’s menu.

And last but not least – according to Bulgarian traditions 14^th February is also a day to be celebrated in the company of quality wines. Therefore, we are ready to offer you a wide range of premium white and red wines from Bulgaria and all around the world, as well as iconic sparkling wines to match the occasion.

Let love be in every detail.