By Vanessa Wolf

These oysters are not specifically depicting the Lover’s Platter, but you get the idea. Photo by Vanessa Wolf

Well, hello lovers.

Although 2015 is still quite fresh, it seems it’s never too early to start worrying about Valentine’s Day.

Maui Ocean Center’s annual Sea of Love dinner is being held on Saturday, February 14th and seating becomes available this week.

Featuring a four-course meal, semi-private seating and the extremely cool backdrop of Hawaii’s glass-encased marine life, the event takes over the aquarium each Valentine’s day.

Upon entering the aquarium, guests are greeted with a special lei for the ladies before being escorted to your reserved table in the Living Reef Exhibit or oceanview Seascape Ma‘alaea Restaurant.

After complimentary glasses of sparkling wine, the evening’s four-course meal – prepared by James Beard nominee Chef Henry Tariga and catered by the ocean center’s Seascape Ma‘alaea Restaurant – begins.

Don’t tell the sea life naively swimming behind you, but things start with the Lover’s Platter, a combination of freshly shucked oysters with lilikoi mignonette sauce, shrimp cocktail and lobster dumplings with a Kaffir lime oil drizzle.

Next, the Cupid’s Nicoise Salad features a medley of baby romaine and spinach leaves topped with Kalamata olives, fire roasted red peppers, chopped boiled eggs, feta cheese, sun dried tomatoes, and a house made champagne vinaigrette. Apparently Cupid is a vegetarian.

Meanwhile, the main course offers your choice of entrees:

• Mahi Mahi stuffed with Wild Caught Pacific Blue Crab
• Hand Cut Filet Mignon paired with King Crab Legs
• Vegetable Lei of Hand-Selected Portobello Mushrooms, Asparagus, Grilled Peppers, and Maui Tomatoes
• Free Range Chicken Breast stuffed with Fresh Spinach and Boursin Cheese on a bed of Truffle Butter Noisette.

Entrées are complemented by the chef’s choice of accompaniments.

Scene from the Ocean Center. Courtesy image.

The end of your reign of dining-on-aquarium-fodder terror ends with the strawberry Florentine basket. Paired with chocolate covered strawberries, it’s accompanied by your choice of coffee or tea.

The evening includes a complimentary welcome glass of sparkling wine, with champagne upgrades and bar service available for an additional fee.

The Sea of Love Dinner is available for $119 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Seating times are between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and reservations are required.

Interested?

Reservations for Maui Ocean Center members are available now and the aquarium notes that members must provide their membership number upon making reservations and are limited to reserving one table per membership.

Remaining reservations open to the general public this Thursday, January 15th.

Call 808-270-7088 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to make yours.