When was the last time you had a restaurant date night? If your answer is March, Visit Fairfax, the the official tourism organization for Fairfax County, thinks you might be due to rethink your romantic strategy. It’s time to support restaurants and help them survive the winter, but it’s possible to do it safely.
Remember the organization’s Takeout Trail? It has morphed to become the Fairfax County Restaurant Trail mobile passport. The web page and app allow diners to browse everything from heated outdoor dining options to safety protocols like table dividers, mobile payments and single-use menus. There are exclusive specials, too, including offers like 50 percent off wine or free appetizers. The #SaveTheDateNight campaign encourages locals and visitors alike to help restaurants by either dining out or ordering in. And what’s more romantic than finishing a meal with chocolate?
To that end, Visit Fairfax has created a Chocolate Safari. The organization is posting tempting photos of chocolate creations from across Fairfax County in order to get dessert lovers’ juices flowing. Current postings include hot chocolate bombs from River Sea Chocolates in Chantilly (right around the corner from Ono Brewing and its chocolate milk stout), Fogo de Chao’s rich Chocolate Brigadeiro cake, and a Ferrero Rocher-filled crepe from Vienna’s Crepes & Karak Cafe. Additional restaurants that wish to be among the 25 businesses already on the Chocolate Safari map can sign up here at no cost.
Cutting costs and can’t afford a fancy meal right now? No problem! Each Thursday this winter, starting December 10th, foodies can go to Visit Fairfax’s Facebook and Instagram for a chance to win restaurant gift certificates by posting about something they love about a person with whom they would like to #SaveTheDateNight. Don’t have a significant other? Visit Fairfax says it’s just fine to post about a friend, parent or even a pet.
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