Blue Wahoos Offer Stress Free Way To Celebrate Valentine's Day 

The worry about deciding the right dinner experience on Valentine’s Day is something Blue Wahoos executive chef Travis Wilson can relate.

Yes, even chefs sweat the details. Especially, right now, amid the coronavirus pandemic with dining out an uncertainty for so many.

“I have been happily married for over 10 years, so I have had a few experiences with Valentine’s Day,” said Wilson, laughing, who rejoined the team’s staff before the 2019 season. “Trying to make that perfect dinner. Trying to come up with the perfect foods to prepare, or the right place to go.

“And not trying to make it too stressful while providing a good experience.”

He’s come up with a take-out solution.

The Blue Wahoos are offering two gourmet dinner options – ready to reheat with easy convenience – that can be picked up on Feb. 13. Both options are for two people to enjoy.

Both are “Surf and Turf” items with steak and shrimp, salad and whipped potatoes, vegetables and dessert. The first one is $60 for two. The second is $85 and includes choice of red wine or Champagne, plus crab cakes, and a cheese and berries dip with crackers.

“It plays into what is seen as romantic food,” Wilson said. “What do you feel is a meal you can share.”

The Valentines Day dinner options will be accepted through the end of business day on Feb. 10.

“Both of these (Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day) are just another zig and zag, so to speak, and trying to do our part during these unertain times,” Wilson said. “It kind of fits into our mission of trying to provide nice value, nice consistency, nice ease of serving.”

Both are first-time offerings from the Blue Wahoos. Eric Kroll, the Blue Wahoos general manager for food and beverage, along with Wilson and staff members will prepare all the food in advance and ready to reheat.

Wilson said the popularity of the Christmas dinner take-out meals spurred the chance to do it again for Valentines Day weekend.

“It went really well from the process of the orders, to the pick up and feedback we got was very positive,” he said. “So we tweaked it a little bit to fit the Valentines mold, make it a little more romantic. And I think people will enjoy it.

“Valentine’s Day is one of those days where you feel pressure to make a nice meal for your significant other or whatever. And we took the idea that you don’t want to have that struggle of calling in for a meal to go and have it cold by the time you get home.”

The items can be picked up between 2 and 6 p.m. on Feb. 13. The dinner menu for Valentine’s Day are foods that Wilson has prepared before for his wife and himself to enjoy.

Steak and seafood are two of his favorites.

“Surf and Turf is the way to go,” he said. “To me, it’s just a classic. Surf and Turf has been around on restaurant menus since the 50’s.

“A protein plus a seafood is just a good contrast of texture and flavor. They go together. And who doesn’t like whipped potatoes.”

The meals will be placed into containers that are able to be placed inside an oven to reheat and immediately serve.

“We make it that way, so no one has to do too much legwork in the kitchen and there are no dishes,” Wilson said. “The container can go right to the oven.

“We got a lot of feedback from Christmas that people liked the quality and appreciated the portions. We are trying to be that place that provides a little something extra that you can take home and serve.”

WHAT: Blue Wahoos Valentine’s Day Dinner,

COST: Valentine’s Day meals for two are $60 and $80.

PICKUP: Feb. 13 for Valentine’s Day meal kits at stadium entrance to Hancock-Whitney Club level.

ORDER: www.milb.com/pensacola/tickets/valentines

ITEMS: Valentine’s Dinner includes: Caprese Salad, Roasted Garlic & Herb Whipped Potatoes, Sautéed Broccolini, Grilled Bistro Filet w/ Peppercorn Mushroom Demi-Glace, Scampi-Style Grilled Shrimp, Dark Chocolate Strawberry and White Chocolate Key Lime Mini Tarts, plus added option of Pecan-Crusted Crab Cakes, Fresh Berries, Cheese & Cracker Assortment, and a Bottle of Wine (Athena Cabernet or LaMarca Prosecco).