The TASTE guide to celebrating Valentine’s Day

By Ashraf Booley, 11 February 2016

You don’t have to be a hopeless romantic to melt hearts this Valentine’s Day. Our guide is here to help you fan the flames of your romance, with food obviously – because, true to cliché, the way to a woman or man’s heart is through their stomach.

A LITTLE LESS CORNY

If you’re not the corny type (a.k.a. red roses and heart-shaped chocolates, a.k.a. half of the human population), our contributing food editor Hannah Lewry may have the perfect alternative for you: making your own edible gifts – and enjoying them together. Okay, so there’s still a slight degree of corny involved but it’s a fun way to bond and make a hot mess in the kitchen. Wouldn’t you agree?

Browse Hannah’s clever ideas here (PLUS: a showstopping cheat’s watermelon-and-strawberry sorbet)

A CHEAT’S MENU TO EARN YOU BROWNIE POINTS

Want to impress but not the greatest cook? This doesn’t mean you have to shy away from the kitchen or order takeaway, plate it and pretend you’ve made it yourself. Abigail Donnelly’s foolproof three-course menu will be your saving grace, and it requires only three ingredients each (hint: it includes a super-easy chocolate mousse recipe).

View Abigail Donnelly’s cheat’s Valentine’s Day menu here

FOODS TO TURN UP THE “HEAT”…

Disclaimer: things can get, er, a little steamy from here. This is a mission we all may or may not be (secretly) after: fanning the flames of desire. Annette Klinger rounds up some interesting (and unexpected) foods that may do just that, including recipes to use them in.

Click here to get the mood going

FOR THE BORDERLINE VALENTINE’S DAY GRINCH

If you’re bordering on Valentine’s Day grinch but your partner is all about the month of love, why not head over to Woolies to avoid the dog box? They’ve got a wide selection of love-ly gifts and delicious foods to enjoy together.

Browse Woolies’ Valentine’s Day store here

RAISE YOUR GLASS

Because Valentine’s Day. Or because, like us, you don’t need a reason to pop a bottle. Woolworths wine selector Allan Mullins recommends these seven bubblies, which are perfect for ending the night on a high. (PLUS: how to open bubbly like a pro – to avoid awkward eye injuries, you know.)

Click here to start celebrating

For even more inspiration, browse our date night menus here or click here for our best brunches.

Happy cooking and happy Valentine’s Day!

Ashraf Booley

Article by Ashraf Booley

Woolworths TASTE’s digital content producer loves nothing more than trying out inventive recipes and using close friends and family as his guinea pigs. When he’s not crafting content or posting images to TASTE’s Instagram account, he sits in a quiet corner sipping on pretentious tea and penning poetry.
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