"love" news and stories

I've been sick with a cold, and it's Valentine's Day, and so what? I've had this cold so long I'm sick of writing about remedies. I want to address some things that many have come to me about, mainly, the secrets of getting a nice dinner squeezed into life between the time you go out after work to have a few drinks or go to a party and the time you go home and go to bed.

We all know the feeling of being out on a Valentine's Day date for a few drinks, and you start to get dizzy, and the hunger is affecting your ability to be glib. You are even starting to get angry, but mentioning food on the first date of "let's meet for coffee/a drink" seems so terribly vulgar. 

This is the age of the anorexic, when needing to eat all the time is a sign of weakness. There is nothing wrong with going out to eat of course, but being the one who suggests it, right before you pass out from hunger even though you've just had three bowls of popcorn at the bar, that's not cool. Nor is saying "Hope you don't mind if I go ahead and order something," and then trying to look sexy while scarfing down a giant cheeseburger, your eyes bulging out of your head as you try and fit a bite into your mouth.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who simply do not care for chocolate. It can be too bitter or too rich for some, while others don't really like the flavor. It is possible that, while they might enjoy the occasional piece, your Valentine simply would prefer to get something other than a box of decadent dark chocolate truffles for Valentine's Day.

In the candy category, caramel is at least equal to chocolate in richness and flavor. Many caramels are sold covered in chocolate, but the Little Flower Candy Company in Los Angeles, makes unbelievably delicious (and chocolate free) Sea Salt Caramels, which would be an unusual, sweet treat for your Valentine. They also have a wide variety of marshmallows, though most would still think that they are best when paired with hot chocolate. Other candy options might include divinity or even peanut brittle, which is certainly tasty, if not particularly romantic.

If you're looking for a love potion on Valentine's Day, finding one could be a challenge. After all, so many people have different tastes. Your Valentine might prefer fruity drinks, while mine might want something truly exotic. Unless you happen to know a gypsy called Madame Rue, Love Potion Number 9 is best left to The Searchers. Alcohol is probably the next best thing and Star Chefs has accumulated a collection of love potion cocktails from the best restaurants in the country.  Slashfood's favorite potions from the list include:

• Sex and Honey, from Fat Fish in West Hollywood, CA
• Sweetheart Cocktail, from Flatiron Lounge in New York, NY
• Gingersnap, from Tabla in New York, NY
• White Chocolate Martini, from Pravda in New York, NY
• Black Cat Love Potion, from Black Cat in San Francisco, CA

Because frosting cookies, even for a special occasion like Valentine's Day, sometimes to require more of a time commitment than we are able to make, it is nice to have a simple decorating stick up your sleeve. Or in this case, in your kitchen drawer. All you need to make these heartbreakers is a heart shaped cookie cutter and a knife. After punching out the heart shape, simply use a small, sharp knife to cut a zig zag line into the cookie. Pull the edges slightly apart so the line doesn't seal itself up during baking. You can roll them in sugar, as I did here, or simple leave them plain.

On Valentine's Day, more than 30% of all Americans will eat at a restaurant, making it the second most popular holiday for dining out, after Mother's Day. When numbers are broken down by age, it is not surprising to see that for people between the ages of 25 and 34, the numbers are much higher, with 41% of people dining at a restaurant on February 14. The highest numbers are among the 18-24 year olds, with 47% percent heading out to eat. Those who dine out will spend an average of $62 dollars on dinner, while possibly spending more on gifts such as chocolates and flowers. OpenTable.com is a great way to check for reservations are some of your favorite restaurants across the country and the world.

Though dining out can be fun and romantic, for some lovebirds there is nothing as romantic as a home-cooked meal shared across a table for two. Cooking together or cooking for a loved one can be a more romantic and thoughtful gift than a box of chocolates, for those who enjoy cooking.