Valentine’s Day is a holiday that always falls on February 14. It is a day on which lovers traditionally express their love for each other; usually including sending Valentine’s cards or candy. It is also very common to present flowers on Valentine’s Day. The origin and history of this holiday is unclear, since there are at least three St. Valentines recognized by the Catholic Church, all of whom were martyred .

One of the most likely candidates is a Saint Valentine who lived in Rome in the third century.  Apparently the emperer Claudius concluded that single men made better soldiers than married men (since they didn’t have wives and families to worry about) so Claudius decreed that young single men could not marry.  Apparently, St. Valentine objected to this dramatic pronouncement, and continued to marry young lovers in secret, until he was found out and executed.

In any case, the day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished, and it has been carried on ever since, into modern day practice.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "Valentines". Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The mid-nineteenth century Valentine’s Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow.  The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that about one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year second only to Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase about 85 percent of all valentines cards sold.

A stay in our Honeymoon suite is the perfect gift to one another for Valentine’s Day.

10 ways to treat a lover - Valentines Day Recipe

1. Set the menu: Choose items that are easy to prepare and eat and that your date enjoys. Go for simplicity, colour, freshness and flavour, rather than heavy, sleep-inducing recipes with dozens of steps. Spend time with your date, not all night in the kitchen.

2. Cheat a little (on dinner, not your date): If you’re not a confident cook, and even if you are, accent that favourite dish with quality, ready-to-eat items. Start the meal with a good store-made paté, thin slices of smoked salmon or prosciutto, cooked peeled prawns or a tray of antipasto. Finish with store-bought truffles.This will make the meal easier to prepare, and make you more relaxed.

3. Plan ahead: Shop the day before for as many ingredients as possible. (Of course, items such as shellfish should be purchased just hours before you eat them.) Prepare in advance as much as you can – cut the vegetables, make the salad dressing, prepare the sauce – so you can quickly whip them together when it’s time to serve.

4. Choose the wine: A special meal requires something special to drink. After planning the menu, visit your wine retailer and tell them what you’re serving and your budget. There are so many wonderful wines at all price levels, they’ll be more than happy to point you in the right direction. If you don’t drink alcohol, consider serving non-alcoholic sparkling cider or, perhaps, your own exotic blend of fruit juices.

5. Select the music: Plan a night’s worth of music. Unobtrusive, soft, sexy and harmonious is the way to go. It’s also fun for well-established couples to play songs that take you back to when you first fell in love.

6. Set a beautiful table: Make use of candlelight or soft lamps – there’s nothing romantic about a bright light or a harsh fluorescent light. Flowers add to the romance, but you may have to check that your date doesn’t have any allergies to flowers. Set a fine table with your best linens, cutlery and china. Set a fine table with your best linens, and if you’re lacking in this department, as I was as a young man, work with what you’ve got. The effort will be appreciated and memories of this romantic encounter will bring a smile later on in the relationship.

7. No interruptions: Schedule the time for your romantic dinner and don’t let anything interrupt. Unplug the phone, don’t answer the door and do not check how your team’s doing in the game or how your favourite drama is shaping up. Your relaxed, unconnected self will thank you for the effort.

8. Don’t rush: Go slow, savour the food and drink and enjoy the night in a warm, casual way. Take a breather between courses, to talk or to, well – that’s up to you.

9. Don’t worry about the dishes: A washing-up break will break the romantic momentum you set during dinner. Scrape, rinse and stack the plates, and leave them till the morning.

10. Learn to be still: After dinner snuggle on the couch, hold each other tight, and take the time to quietly appreciate how good life can be!

GOLDEN BROTH WITH ROASTED PEPPER HEARTS

This light, delicately flavoured soup is a perfect way to start a romantic meal. The chicken broth can be homemade or store-bought.

* Preparation time: 15 minutes
* Cook time: 12-13 minutes
* Makes: 2 servings

2-1/4 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp saffron
1/2 tsp finely chopped ginger
1/4 tsp finely chopped garlic
1 tsp chopped fresh tarragon, or pinch dried
1 medium roasted red pepper
1 green onion, finely chopped
Salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste

Place the broth in a small pot. Add the saffron, ginger, garlic and tarragon and bring to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the roasted pepper in half and remove the seeds. Use a small cookie cutter to cut out heart-shaped pieces; you should get about 10. (Heart-shaped cutters are available at kitchenware stores. If you can’t find one, carefully cut out heart-shaped pieces with a paring knife). Set the hearts and green onions into 2 heated soup bowls.

Season the soup with salt and pepper, then strain into another pot. Bring back to simmer, then pour into bowls and serve.

Note: The broth could be flavoured, simmered and strained a day in advance. The roasted pepper and greens could be prepared a day in advance and stored in the fridge separately. Roasted red peppers are sold in jars and in bulk at most supermarket delis and Italian food stores. Saffron is sold in most supermarkets and fine food stores.

BABY GREENS WITH PEARS, PECANS, GOAT CHEESE AND RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE

This light salad will cleanse your palate before the main course.

* Preparation time: 15 minutes
* Cook time: None
* Makes: 2 servings

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp raspberry vinegar
1/3 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and honey to taste
3 cups mixed baby organic salad greens
1/2 ripe pear, thinly sliced
1/4 cup pecan halves
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

Place the oil, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper and honey in a bowl; whisk well to combine. Add the baby greens and toss to coat with the dressing. Divide among 2 chilled salad plates. Garnish top with remaining ingredients, then serve.

Note: Baby mixed greens are sold at most supermarkets.

SEAFOOD SAMPLER FOR TWO

Here’s a taste of the sea for two. The dish can be made oven-ready hours in advance and baked when you’re ready to serve.

* Preparation time: 20 minutes
* Cook time: 12-15 minutes
* Makes: 2 servings

2 3- to 4-oz (about 100 grams each) salmon fillets
4 large sea scallops
4 large prawns, peeled with tail portion intact
2 medium oysters, shucked and left in the half shell
1/4 cup white wine
2-3 Tbsp melted butter
1 Tbsp chopped fresh tarragon, or 1 tsp dried,
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
Pinch of paprika and cayenne pepper
Salt, freshly cracked pepper and lemon juice to taste
1 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Lemon wedges for garnish

Preheat the oven to 450* F. Place the salmon, scallops, prawns and oysters in a single layer in a shallow-sided baking dish. Combine the wine, butter, tarragon, garlic, paprika, cayenne, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a bowl, and then drizzle over the seafood. Sprinkle Parmesan on the oysters. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until seafood is just cooked. Serve straight out of the baking dish, or arrange on plates, spooning the pan juice over top. Serve with steamed rice or boiled potatoes, asparagus or green beans, and warm, crusty bread.

TRUFFLES AND CORNUCOPIA OF FRESH FRUIT

Buy a small selection of chocolate truffles from your favourite chocolate shop. Arrange on a pretty plate. On another plate, arrange a selection of colourful fruits, cut when necessary into bite-sized chunks.

Your fruit plate can include strawberries, papaya, kiwi, grapes, figs and star fruit. Serve with dessert wine or sparkling wine, if desired.