Move Over Oysters: Mexican Aphrodisiac Foods Take Center Stage for Valentine’s Day

The romantic menu pairing will be available from February 12–15.

 

Valentine’s Day menus often lean on chocolate and champagne. At Jacinta de Mexico, an authentic Mexican restaurant known for honoring centuries-old traditions, romance is getting a bold – and deliciously unexpected – twist.

 

At the heart of Jacinta de Mexico’s Valentine’s Day offerings are escamoles, often called Mexican caviar for their delicate, buttery texture, and chapulines, toasted grasshoppers long celebrated in Mexican folklore for their vitality and allure. Gusanos de maguey, prized for their smoky, earthy flavor and historic ties to mezcal, are pan-fried and served on Jacinta’s signature blue corn tortilla.

Long before roses and reservation-only menus, ingredients like these played a role in rituals honoring fertility, indulgence and connection.

 

“Chapulines, gusanos and escamoles are like history on a plate,” said Lalo Durazo, DZO Hospitality CEO and creator of Jacinta de Mexico. “For generations, these ingredients were prized not only for their flavor, but for the way food brings people closer. Valentine’s Day felt like the perfect moment to share that story.”

 

To add a playful layer to the experience, Durazo has dubbed the Valentine’s promotion “Love Bugs Sampler,” a lighthearted nod to ingredients that have played a serious role in Mexican cuisine for centuries. Offered from February 12 to 15, the limited-time menu features heart-shaped tortillas and is finished with a lily garnish, a flower long associated with love and fertility in Mexico, inviting couples to explore bold flavors, time-honored traditions, and a shared sense of discovery.

 

The experience is complemented by Jacinta de Mexico’s cocktail program, including smoky mezcal-forward selections like La Elegante and Vacations in Tulum, as well as bright citrus margaritas such as The Classic and the Cilantro-Maracuyá. Each is designed to enhance the earthy, buttery, and spice-driven notes of the dishes.

 

For couples looking to move beyond predictable Valentine’s Day fare, Jacinta offers something different: a shared experience, a conversation starter and a reminder that romance does not have to be ordinary to be meaningful.

 

The Love Bugs Sampler offering will be available for $32. Jacinta de Mexico is located at Aventura Mall near the Bloomingdale’s entrance at 19501 Biscayne Blvd. Reservations are available on OpenTable. For more information, visit jacintarestaurant.com.

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