TotalBiscuit Tastes Valentine"s Day
What could be more romantic than candlelight, red roses, the croonings of a barbershop quartet and a half-dozen beef sliders lovingly wrapped and delivered in tiny cardboardboxes?
Welcome to the Castle of Love.
White Castle has been puttingout the red carpetfor Valentines Day celebrations for the past 25 years, dimming the lights, setting up a hostess stand, decorating with red heart balloons and delivering thecheck on plates along withTootsie Rolls.
Robby and Marisa Nicholson of St. Paul went tothe White Castle on University and Lexington avenues in St. Paul on Sunday night for their fifth year in a row. They said they werent going to miss it for anything and were crossing their fingers that their baby due next week waited until after Sunday night.
We even had White Castle at our wedding, Marisa Nicholson said, noting they ordered a few suitcases of sliders delivered to their wedding reception close to midnight from the same White Castle location.
I told everyone, my big thing iscantmiss White Castle on Valentines Day, she said. Although my parents promisedtheyd bring it to the hospital if I went into labor.
This is our last date before the baby comes, Robby Nicholson said. Next year well bring him with us.
Once I have my White Castle, he can come any time, she said looking at her belly.
Each year, thecouple makes reservations for around 7 p.m. because thats when abarbershop quartet shows up and serenades diners.
Its a way to poke fun at a not-so-important holiday, Marisa Nicholson said. We arent fancy people.
It may not be a fancy restaurant, but that doesnt stop people from donning their fancy duds.
Several men wore tuxedos to dinner Sunday night, including Michael Warns.
Warns worea tux and his wife, Benita, worea floor-length skirt. Just like they do every year.
We always joke about things and that derision thing, Youre going to take your date to White Castle for Valentines Day? Benita said. So we came. Its a really camp thing to do. We decided to dress formally the first year, and it created quite a stir. We have fun no matter what we do.
The couple owns Mr. Michael Recycles Bicycles. Benita saidthat one year, when the temperature isa bit warmer and the roads areclear, they are going to rideto the restaurant on a bicycle a vintage red 1964 Schwinn Twinn tandem.
We love it, Benita said. We can really have a lot of fun without spending a lot of money.
Debrah and Tom Betz agree.
Weve been to a number of dinners that easily cost hundreds of dollars, and thats just ridiculous, Debrah Betz said. This is a funky thing to do. Its affordable and fun.
The couple began going to the event in 2007 but missed a few years when they moved to Oregon. Both said they are happy to be back.
We missed it, Tom Betz said.
John Lutgen, normally a kitchen worker but on this day a waiter, photographs Debrah and Tom Betz of St. Paul, celebrating Valentines Day atWhite Castle on University Avenue in St. Paulon Sunday.(Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)Debrah Betz collects posters advertising the event each year and brings them out to decorate for Valentines Day, along with a mini light-up White Castle she found on eBay.
Christine Lofton and as many as a dozen family members have reserved the same three to four tables for the past six years.
Its fun to come and be together, she said. Its inexpensive and good food. They do a good job.
Thebarbershop quartet, Noteorious,has been singing at the restaurant on Valentines Day for the past seven years.
We love to sing, said Ron Riley, one of the crooners who showed up Sunday night.
Reserved tables for a romantic interlude atWhite Castle are booked weeks in advance.
Manager Jesse Miller said his restaurant starts taking reservations Jan. 1. If you havent booked by the third week in January, youre usually out of luck.
The Valentines Day activities begin at 3 p.m. and last until 9p.m. During that time, the restaurant has booked up to 80 reservations, each one with between two and three people at the locations 14 tables.
Its sweet, simple and very family friendly, Miller said. Its a happy-go-lucky occasion. When someone says they havereservations at White Castle, that puts a smile on your face.
The fast-food restaurant has dessert covered, too. Diners can satisfy that sweet tooth with a shake, aBrownie-on-a-Stick or Cheesecake-on-a-Stick. Or all three.
People took to Twitter to share snapshots of their date.
One man wrote celebrating Valentines Day at Castle Du Blanc ahem White Castle.
The White Castle in Hopkins featured local pianist Sandy Atlas, who played for six hours for lovers of sliders.
Describing himself as a life-long piano man, Atlas said playing Sunday wastheright thing to do on a day dedicated to love and romance. Why not make it even more lovely with a little music?
Its been great, having Atlas, said manager Christie Tereault. We love having live entertainment. Its been another great Valentines Day. Its something different and special for our team and for our regulars.
Anthony Lenzen and Kendra Lundblad kissed after Lundblad surprised her boyfriend, a Chaska High School student, by inviting him to her Park Cottage Grove High School prom, during the Valentines Day event at White Castle on University Avenue in St. Paulon Sunday. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)For many couples, White Castle holds a special place in their hearts. Many have fond memories of first dates here, some even met for the first time at a White Castle and then theres the few who shared their wedding vows among friends and family in our dining room, said Jamie Richardson, vice president of White Castle. For a lot of our Cravers, White Castle is where they first met, so enjoying Sliders together on Valentines Day brings back a feeling of nostalgia. This is a wonderful event for many of our guests who have shared memorable moments at our restaurants over the years.
Nobody ordered the suitcase of sliders off the menu called a Crave Crate that contains 100 sliders. In case you are wondering, 100 sliders is equal to 13,960 calories. But whose counting calories on Valentines Day?
Source: http://www.twincities.com/2016/02/14/white-castle-valentines-day-means-candlelight-song-and-sliders/
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