From prix-fixe deals to sweet treats, Valentine’s Day brings smiles to Flatbush area

Overview:

Some Haitian companies in central Brooklyn noticed a mixture of romance and indulgence on Valentine’s Day.

BROOKLYN — Love was within the air on Friday as New Yorkers joined the annual Valentine’s Day festivities, and other people round Flatbush have been no exception.

Throughout the nation, customers have been anticipated to spend a record-breaking $27.5 billion on the vacation, according to the Nationwide Retail Federation. Greater than a 3rd of that spending was anticipated towards an evening out. In Brooklyn, some Haitian eating places noticed their share of {couples}, associates and households marking the event with meals, drinks and good firm.

Even amid financial uncertainty and unease in immigrant neighborhoods, some residents and guests nonetheless made their solution to native scorching spots, embracing the vacation as a second of pleasure and indulgence. From romantic prix-fixe dinners in Prospect Lefferts Gardens to last-minute present purchasing close to the Newkirk Avenue-Little Haiti subway station, Valentine’s Day unfolded in central Brooklyn with a mixture of American fare and Caribbean cultural aptitude. Some opted for a style of house with Haitian-inspired dishes, whereas others capped the night time with candy treats or stay music.

“The griot with the pikliz on the Hawaiian roll was like a unique expertise,” mentioned Reneitia, a diner at DjonDjon.

Reneitia and her accomplice, Clo, each of their late thirties, requested to be recognized by their first names for privateness causes. They have been visiting from Boston. Clo, who’s American, had found Djon Djon on social media and was drawn to its Haitian delicacies and possession.

Clo, 36, and Reneitia, 39, head out after a leisurely meal at Djon Djon restaurant, on Nostrand Ave in Prospect Lefferts Gardens on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Picture by Allison Hunter for The Haitian Occasions.

“I needed to assist a Black native enterprise,” she mentioned. “My girlfriend’s additionally Haitian, so I knew she would adore it.”

For Reneitia, who grew up with a Haitian mom, dishes like legim ak sòs pwa and diri blan – stewed greens with white rice and beans – have been staples at house. However at Djon Djon, the menu supplied sudden twists—just like the griot sliders. Selecting it was a welcome departure from the costly steakhouses she frequented on prior Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Sooner or later, she mentioned, “I’ll by no means, ever go to, like, an costly high-end steakhouse [for Valentine’s] ever once more.”

Listed below are some photos from the night.