Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
No Result
View All Result

Valentine’s Day done right: How to top the romance scales without breaking the bank

Food24
Julie Donald by Julie Donald
February 13, 2018
in Food News
0
Valentine’s Day done right: How to top the romance scales without breaking the bank
0
SHARES
139
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

(image: iStock)

I read this article a couple of days ago about how much restaurateurs can’t stand Valentine’s Day and it got me thinking.  I agree wholeheartedly with “Anonymous Restaurateur”; I have almost never had a pleasant Valentine’s Day dinner experience at a restaurant.  

ALSO READ: Living and loving Valentine’s Day in 2018: Where to eat out for the modern couple

A couple of years ago, my hubby took me to one of Cape Town’s top restaurants for V-day.  It is situated in a hotel, and we booked and prepaid for a set menu. On the night the service was appalling, they didn’t have a table for us (because they still had to service the hotel guests that hadn’t booked), the food was stone cold and terrible. I won’t be going back, even though I am sure on an ordinary night they do amazing food.

So here are my top tips for topping the romance scale AND not breaking the bank doing it!

1. Get up early and watch the sunrise
Before you go to bed on the 13th, chill a bottle of bubbly and some orange juice and have a couple of croissants ready to go.  Get your partner up early and surprise them with an early morning picnic in the garden or on the balcony. What could be a more romantic start to the day? I promise you that NOTHING takes the romance to a new level like spending a full day flirting!

Suggestion: don’t drink ALL the bubbly if you still must go to work.  

Top tip: Sunrise in Durban will be 5:36 AM, Joburg 5:52 AM and Cape Town 6:20 AM (lazy blighters)

2. Give a real gift
Many flower vendors hold back their roses around this time of year so that they have enough on the actual day, so often roses that look like buds are in fact almost dead and have just had their outer petals plucked. And the only person that feels loved by dead roses is Morticia Addams (maybe).  So, ditch the roses and give a real, lasting and meaningful gift. It can be a living rose bush or something that you know your partner really wants. These gifts will be far more memorable and meaningful.

3. Cook a special meal
Make the evening special by making a meal that your partner will remember. A friend of mine swears by the 5 P’s (pesto, prawns, Parmesan, pasta and pine nuts) as the food of love, but I am sure you can find your own special combo. 

4. Include the whole family 
If you have small children going out is “really hard” (finding and paying for a babysitter being the chief obstacle). Why not turn it into a family affair? Make some fun heart-shaped foods – we have a full list of cute heart shaped treats HERE.  Plan a fun family game and then, most importantly, pack them off for an early bedtime, so you can enjoy some time with your S.O. If you really want to get romantic, order a date night box to kick things off.

5. Pretend to be single
If you are hell bent on going out, find a place offering a singles night. I have heard that is where the real fun is (far less expectation and a lot less taking-ourselves-so-seriously going on). Check out your local pool hall, or wine bar and see if they are offering any fun parties. Find a Happy Hour and enjoy good service, a relaxed vibe and no one needs to know you aren’t single (ssssh, it will be our little secret!).

ALSO READ: 12 Aphrodisiac foods to heat up your Valentine’s Day

Tags: Restaurant And BarsValentines Day


Related Posts

modern-food-labels-explained
Conscious cooking

Exploring the new lexicon around dietary food choices

March 27, 2023
French vs Swiss vs Italian meringue: A quick guide to marshmallowy goodness
Baking tips and tricks

French vs Swiss vs Italian meringue: A quick guide to marshmallowy goodness

March 23, 2023
misomite
Features

Discovering the world of locally made miso with master fermenter James Kuiper

March 23, 2023
Next Post
Do you know it’s actually illegal for licensed restaurants to refuse customers free water?

Do you know it's actually illegal for licensed restaurants to refuse customers free water?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Food24 Team Loves

misomite

Discovering the world of locally made miso with master fermenter James Kuiper

March 23, 2023
Chefs share 8 trade-secrets to making a fantastic milk tart at home

Chefs share 8 trade-secrets to making a fantastic milk tart at home

February 20, 2023
The 4-ingredient dough recipe that changed my life

The 4-ingredient dough recipe that changed my life

February 13, 2023
We predict 2023’s biggest food trends for home cooks

We predict 2023’s biggest food trends for home cooks

February 1, 2023
The Food24 team shares their 2023 kitchen goals

The Food24 team shares their 2023 kitchen goals

February 1, 2023

Recent favourites

  • olives in a bowl

    Quick and speedy pantry hacks: 5 clever things to do with store-bought olives

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 15 perfect potato side dishes that will upgrade any meal

    32 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • From vetkoek to fynvleis: The new 100+ Flavours report is a deep-dive into SA food culture

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The impact that load shedding has on your household’s grocery basket

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • French vs Swiss vs Italian meringue: A quick guide to marshmallowy goodness

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get weekly access to our best recipes, tips and tricks

Sign Up
Footer

Quick links

  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Win

Collections

  • New Recipes
  • Festive
  • Baking
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Braai Recipes
  • Lunchbox
  • South African Recipes
  • Pasta Recipes

Other links

  • Advertise with Food24
  • Editorial Policy
  • How to Pitch
  • Contact us

Not in the mood to cook?

Visit eatout.co.za to find the perfect restaurant near you.

eatout.co.za

© 2020 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

  • About us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • New Media
IAB
No Result
View All Result
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win

© 2019 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms below to register

Subscribe to Newsletter

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Close
Food24
Recipe Disclaimer

All recipe content is the responsibility of the party from whom such content originated. You agree that you use the content on Food24 at your own risk. Please read our editorial policy.
Close
Food24
Get the latest recipes delivered to your inbox weekly
Promotional Newsletter

Be the first to receive information about competitions and special offers from Food24 and it's partners.

You have successfully been subscribed!
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Make sure you have completed all required fields.
I don't want to see this again