Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - A February holiday has been recognized for thousands of years. Its history has several beginnings.

The tradition of Valentine's Day is believed to have originated from the pagan customs of the third or fourth century BC, when the Parentalia and Feralia Festivals of Purification were celebrated in ancient Rome between February 13 and 18th. This was also the time of a Fertility Festival which celebrated a young man's rite of passage and involved animal sacrifices and fertility rituals.

With the appearance of Christianity, priests attempted to replace such ancient heathen practices. In the fifth century AD, the church resolved to abolish this pagan celebration by creating its own holiday around the same date and selecting a saint who was remembered for his devotion to love. Saint Valentine became the official Patron Saint of Love, and the holiday continued to evolve.

You can celebrate this sweetheart of a holiday at Kaiser Maximilian with a tempting special a la carte menu or you can order off of the regular menu. Executive Chef Juan Carlos Palomer created some wonderfully heartfelt selections for this occasion.

Starters
• Vegetable terrine with shrimp, bell pepper sauce
• Potato gnocchi with mushrooms, spinach and truffle sauce
• Lobster bisque with puff pastry

Entrées
• Lobster Thermador with rice and sautéed vegetables
• Beef Tenderloin with tomato tarte tatin, mushrooms, mint, sauce bordelaise

Dessert Duo
• Heisse Liebe, vanilla ice cream with warm raspberry sauce and chocolate mousse

By the way, heisse in German means hot and liebe means love, but this popular saying translates to 'great love' or 'very much in love.' You will love this dessert.

This special a la carte menu will be featured until February 28, 2015, but if you plan on spend a romantic evening at Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant on February 14th, please make your reservations TODAY by calling (322) 223-0760 or 222-5058, so you can secure the table and time you desire. Both the regular dinner menu and the special Valentine's Day menu are available from noon to 11 pm at Espresso Bar and in the restaurant's main dining room from 5 to 11 pm.

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Open Monday-Saturday from 8 am to 11 pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant & Cafe is located at Olas Altas #38B in the Zona Romántica of Puerto Vallarta. For reservations call (322) 223-0760 or visit KaiserMaximilian.com

Click HERE to read more about Kaiser Maximilian.