A Chef Allen Valentine: Chocolate as Aroma, Spice, & Indulgence

🎟️ Please note: This is a ticket-required event; all attendees must purchase a ticket to reserve a seat.

$65 per person - includes a four-course meal

+ Wine & Bubbles are available by the glass or bottle at an additional cost.

The Café at Books & Books is delighted to welcome Chef Allen Susser back to our Coral Gables location to debut a very special edition of our community dinners -- right in time for Valentine’s Day! A Chef Allen Valentine: Chocolate as Aroma, Spice & Indulgence, is a one-of-a-kind, four-course dinner that evokes decadence as it incorporates chocolate throughout various elements of each dish. This culinary experience highlights the complex, rich, and diverse flavors of cacao in subtle, provocative, yet unpretentious ways.

James Beard award-winning Chef Allen Susser’s career has been shaped by a lifelong love of food as a means of authentic connection and celebration. From his early familial influences in Brooklyn to international acclaim from Food & Wine, Time, and The New York Times, Chef Allen’s work has always centered on honoring ingredients, culture, and community. His philosophy is simple: cooking is an act of love; one that draws people together, sparks joy, and nourishes both body and spirit. This Valentine's-inspired dinner is a reflection of that philosophy, where passion, generosity, and indulgence mingle and marry at the table.

Grilled Asparagus & Hearts of Palm

Calabrian chilies, prosciutto, Colombian Tumaco chocolate balsamic drizzle.

Roast Red Beet Carpaccio

Feta, cucumber, Ecuadorian dark chocolate, mint

Sierra Nevada Cacao Nib Crusted Filet Mignon

Rosemary truffle fingerling potatoes

Arhuacos Tribe Bittersweet Chocolate Tart

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Host or Publisher Books & Books