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Saint Valentine has a legacy that dates back centuries. Old traditions have morphed throughout the decades, but we still focus our attention on our loved one on this special day. No matter if you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, its history and traditions offer some fun facts to share with friends. Where did the phrase “wear your heart on your sleeve” come from? Well, if you were a woman in the Middle Ages, you would wear the name of your Valentine pinned to your sleeve; hence the phrase. What do people in the U.S. do 1 billion times in Feb? Give someone a Valentine’s Card. Want to dream of your future husband? Girls of medieval times ate bizarre foods on St. Valentine's Day to make them dream of their future husband. Who knew? When was the first known Valentine’s Card created? 100 years ago? 200 years ago? 350 years ago? 600 years ago? It was 600 years ago. The British Library possesses the oldest known valentine in the English language, a poem composed in 1477 by a woman named Margery Brews to her fickle fiancé. What’s with lace used on V-Day cards? The word “lace” comes from the Latin “laques,” meaning “to snare or net,” as in to catch a person’s heart. When should you get engaged? Well, 43% of millennials – some 220,000 -- propose on Valentine's Day each year. Who created the first box of chocolates? Cadbury Hersey Dove Godiva In 1822, John Cadbury opened a tea and coffee shop in Birmingham, England. He soon expanded into chocolate manufacturing, and in 1861 his son Richard greatly increased sales by packaging Cadbury chocolates in the world's first heart shaped candy box for Valentine’s Day. Iconic candy hearts started as medicine Whether or not you like those pastel hearts with “Be Mine” on it, they were invented in 1847 by a pharmacist who made lozenges. He switched to making them into candy turning those funny little heart candies part of Valentine’s Day ever since. 110 million of what is sold for V-Day? Cards Roses Candy boxes Dinners at Duke’s Roses, the majority of which are red. So, what’s with Cupid's bow and arrow? This cute little character from Roman mythology, Cupid, is the son of Venus, the goddess of love. A flying baby with a bow and arrow is weird enough but his goal is to pierce hearts and cast a spell of love. Check out our 12 Days of Valentines menu by clicking HERE!

Valentine’s Day Fun Facts

By Steve Raymond | February 5, 2019

Saint Valentine has a legacy that dates back centuries. Old traditions have morphed throughout the decades, but we still focus our attention on our loved one on this special day. No matter if you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, its history and traditions offer some fun facts to share with friends. Where did the phrase…

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Wild Bill and Duke Preparing Plate

Talking Turkey with Executive Chef “Wild” Bill Ranniger

By Amy Waeschle | November 21, 2018

Forget fancy, let go of perfect for the holidays. Our executive chef “Wild” Bill has the best advice. Take it away, Bill! By Bill Ranniger First things first: my advice to having a great holiday turkey dinner is to go to Duke’s for several days before Thanksgiving or Christmas, eat good food and mentally prepare…

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Clam chowder

Desserts To Die For

By Duke Moscrip | October 22, 2018

When you come to Duke’s, we aim to provide a meal that not only tastes great but also makes you feel good inside. We infuse every dish we create with that comforting feeling – including our desserts. We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends Just because you know how to cook does NOT…

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Duke Holding Fish with Jimi

Farmed vs. Wild Salmon: What's the Difference?

By Duke Moscrip | October 12, 2018

The debate surrounding wild and farmed salmon is complex and often contradictory. The issues and arguments generally fall into three main categories: environmental concerns, contamination problems, and the heath concerns of eating farmed salmon. Environmental Concerns Farmed fish are most commonly raised in net pens in the ocean, usually in a protected area such as…

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