By Emily Beckett
Have you made plans for Valentine’s Day?
If not, there is still time to put something special together for the one you love, or for all of your loved ones, right here in Chilton County.
Below is a sampling of local eateries and businesses to consider when making Valentine’s Day plans and gift purchases.
EATERIES
•Helfi’s Grill in downtown Clanton will offer a selective menu only during the evening hours of Friday, Feb. 14.
Starting at about 5 p.m. until close, the selective menu will feature three signature dishes: oven-roasted chicken breast with a teriyaki-glazed reduction; filet mignon with cabernet glazed mushrooms, caramelized onions and house steak glaze (a red wine balsamic reduction); and steamed lobster tail with shrimp skewers.
“We’re trying to stick to our signature restaurant,” Helfi’s executive chef Eric Helfinstine said. “This year, we’re focusing 100 percent on what we do best. If it catches anybody’s eye, it’s not going to be a disappointment.”
The chicken will be served with a side of an herb-roasted vegetable blend of Red Bliss potatoes, baby carrots and snap peas.
The filet mignon will be served with a side of mashed potatoes.
The lobster tail and shrimp skewers will be served with a side of rice pilaf.
All dishes will be served with a choice of Caesar salad or chopped Romaine (house) salad, and chocolate strawberry three-layer cake for dessert.
“Those are our most popular salads that we do,” Helfinstine said.
Prices for both dine-in and carryout customers are $40 for a couple’s combo (two entrées, two salads and dessert) and $24.99 for a single entrée.
Beverages – soda, tea, coffee, beer and others – are not included in the meal prices listed above.
Helfinstine said couples and families are welcome to take advantage of the selective menu on Valentine’s Day.
“We will offer a juniors menu as well,” Helfinstine said. “It’s a good time of year, and we serve some really good food around those seasonal times. You don’t have to go to Birmingham or Prattville. You can stay right here and get it just as good, if not better.”
There is no deadline to make dine-in reservations or carryout orders for Valentine’s Day.
Those wanting to make a reservation or place an order can call (205) 280-0225 or go by the restaurant, located at 309 Seventh St. N. in Clanton.
Helfi’s regular menu items will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 14.
•Boomerang’s in Clanton will offer dinner for two for $39.99 Feb. 14–16.
The dinner special will include two meals. The choices are prime rib, salmon, chicken on the barbie or an 8-ounce sirloin steak.
The special also comes with an appetizer, salad bar, choice of side and dessert for two.
The special will be available at Boomerang’s Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“We are pre-selling dinners now,” general manager Tom Vlahovski said. “They can actually get a discounted rate if they come in and purchase now. It’s $35.99.”
Dine-in and takeout are available. Customers may also order items off the regular menu Feb. 14–16.
Boomerang’s is located at 2021 Seventh St. S., Exit 205 in Clanton.
To place an order or for more information, call (205) 755-0031.
•At Shoney’s in Clanton, two can dine for $24.99 Feb. 14–16 from 4 p.m. to close.
The price includes a choice of any Shoney’s dessert to share.
The special buffet will feature herb-roasted salmon, peel ‘n’ eat garlic shrimp, barbecue ribs, crispy whole catfish, seared sirloin, chicken alfredo, crispy fried shrimp, stuffed crab royale, fresh salad, soup and fruit and more.
The special is available for dine-in only.
Shoney’s is located at 950 Lake Mitchell Road off Exit 208 in Clanton.
GIFTS
•This Is Bliss LLC in Clanton is offering a one-hour Signature Massage for $50 (a savings of $10) as a gift certificate purchase the month of February.
The Signature Massage is a relaxing massage that incorporates warm, moist towels on the face and back, special signature aromatherapy oil blend and gentle pressure point stimulation along the back to encourage the muscles along the spine to further relax.
“The Signature is the most popular one for Valentine’s gift certificate purchases,” said Sharon Russell, licensed massage therapist at This Is Bliss. “In the past couple years, we’ve had a few men purchase gift certificates for their significant other and a couple women have for their husbands. Last year, we had a son contact us from out of state to purchase a gift certificate for the one who’d always been his sweetheart, his mother. We’ve also had appointments pre-booked for Valentine’s Day for their sweetheart as a surprise.”
Those who purchase any gift certificate, not just the Signature Massage, from Feb. 1–14 will receive a small bonus to give to their “sweetheart” or keep for themselves.
This Is Bliss is located at 501 First Ave. N. in downtown Clanton.
To purchase a gift certificate or for more information, call (205) 312-9411 or visit Thisisblissllc.com.
•Jemison Florist in Jemison is offering half a dozen roses starting at $35 in a variety of colors.
Customers may order other types of flowers for Valentine’s Day arrangements as well.
“Most people order roses,” owner Jonna Jones said. “We have any kind of flower you can imagine. We’ve got lilies, tulips, daisies … we have everything.”
Jemison Florist also offers gift baskets starting at $20.
Baskets can include candy and a stuffed animal, candy and jewelry, candy and flowers or other combinations, depending on preference.
Children’s gift baskets start at $12, and ladies’ gift baskets start at $25.
“The women who come in mostly get [baskets] for children,” Jones said. “I have masculine gift baskets as well, and Alabama and Auburn gift baskets.”
Boxed chocolates for adults and children are also available at Jemison Florist.
Those wishing to place an order for Valentine’s Day are advised to do so as soon as possible, but orders will still be accepted Feb. 14.
“Order soon while supplies last,” Jones said.
Deliveries will be made to schools and to Clanton, Isabella, Thorsby, Jemison and Calera.
Jemison Florist, located at 24501 U.S. Highway 31 in Jemison, is open Monday–Saturday at 8 a.m.
To place an order, go by the store or call (205) 688-2458.
•Pinedale Gardens in Clanton is offering a dozen roses for $59.95 and half a dozen roses for $34.95 plus tax and delivery in red, pink, hot pink, yellow, lavender, orange and white.
Fresh mixed arrangements will also be available for $25 and up.
Arrangements can include lilies, roses, daisies, snapdragons, irises and more.
Green plants start at $20.
Fruit baskets are another gift option, and those orders need to be in the day prior to intended delivery for fresh fruit.
Fruit baskets start at $35.
“We will be able to deliver to the schools,” Pinedale owner Becky Patterson said. “We will have snack baskets fixed for kids at school.”
Plush animals and balloons will also be available for children, but balloons cannot be delivered to schools, Patterson said.
On Friday, Feb. 14, School orders must be placed by 10 a.m., and other orders going anywhere else need to be placed by noon.
To place an order, stop by Pinedale Gardens, located at 404 Lay Dam Road in Clanton, or call (205) 755-3480.
Pinedale Gardens is open Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon, but hours may vary around a holiday.
•Heaton Pecan Farm offers a variety of Valentine candy gifts.
Heaton has heart-shaped boxes and bags filled with favorite homemade pecan candies starting at $9.95.
Heaton also has a children’s selection featuring heart-shaped boxes filled with buckeyes and a variety of stuffed animals.
Stop in the store or visit Heaton Pecan Farm’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/HeatonPecanFarm, page for details.
Heaton Pecan Farm is located at 309 Sunrise Boulevard in Clanton.
For more information, call (205) 755-8654.