So, you’re cooking for your other half on Valentine’s Day, either because you want to be romantic, or because you couldn’t get a restaurant booking. How do you make sure it goes well?

Do: Present it well

A 2002 experiment found that people ate 22% less when blindfolded, suggesting there is truth to the cliché that we ‘eat with our eyes’. Even if it’s not true, a well presented meal at least makes it look like you put the effort in.

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Do: set the scene

Flowers will help create an atmosphere, as will gentle music, but be careful: while the likes of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen might seem romantic, their lyrics are actually pretty dark, often concerning failed relationships (if Famous Blue Raincoat is ‘your song’, things have gone wrong somewhere). Something gentle and instrumental would be a safer bet.
Dimmed lights and candles are also nice, but if you can’t see each other, or the food, you will have wasted your time presenting it well.

Don’t: serve aphrodisiac foods

Remember that scene in Taxi Driver? Travis Bickle finally gets a date with Betsy, and takes her to see a dirty movie. She, understandably, storms out of the cinema, saying “taking me to see a picture like that is about as romantic as saying ‘let's f---‘”. Aphrodisiacs are the dirty movies of the culinary world. Serving oysters with a lot of garlic and avocado salad, followed by chocolate pudding with extra chocolate, is the kind of thing Travis Bickle would do. It’s not subtle, and won’t go down well.

Don’t: try and save time or money

Someone I know was once accused of having made ‘the best pesto ever’. She replied: ‘It’s just a case of throwing money at it.’ More expensive ingredients genuinely do taste much better. By cooking at home on Valentine’s, you’re saving at least £30, so you can put some of that towards high end ingredients. Check out gourmet websites like FormanandField.com .
Also, though microwave food is so much quicker, and sometimes tastes great, don’t even think about it.

Do: Go easy on the wine

Wine is an important part of a romantic meal, but remaining conscious is an even more important part. If the night ends with your other half pulling your head out of the toilet, it doesn’t really matter how well things have gone up to that point.

Don’t: insist on watching a war film afterwards

A nice gentle comedy is a great end to a stay-at-home date. Early Woody Allen films: yes. Full Metal Jacket: no. Anything with Humphrey Bogart: yes. Apocalypse Now: no. And don’t forget to give your Valentine’s Day gift. One of those food hampers you can get online is a nice safe option; ‘naughty’ gifts are much more risky – see above section on aphrodisiac foods

Resources

Valentine's Day at the Guardian
The guardian’s Valentine’s Day-themed page

Valentine's recipes
Top chefs share their romantic recipes on the BBC website

City cancels Valentine's Day
The Russian city which cancelled Valentine’s Day.