Lockdown Valentine’s — your best yet?

You know the drill…

The well-rehearsed steps — buy a card, order some roses, book a table at an overpriced restaurant. It’s all billed as exceedingly romantic and memorable, but how many Valentine’s Days can you truly recall? And of those you can, how many featured the tried and tested format above?

For me, the only Valentine’s Day that really stands out is a February 14th spent on a quiet beach in Vietnam. It was a welcome time for rest and recuperation after a lot of travelling (largely by amphetamine fuelled bus drivers). The day didn’t feature any grand gestures or extravagant bouquets; I remember a local restaurant, open sided to the beach, colossal tiger prawns still smoky from the grill, ice cold bottles of local beer and the sound of the ocean.

This year, with no opportunity or expectation to go out, it’s the perfect time to do something more personalised and thoughtful. Granted, I might not be able to match the oceanside setting or weather conditions of Vietnam during winter in north Hertfordshire, but I can certainly create a unique and memorable evening with a little planning and forethought.

№1 — I’m going off-piste with flowers. My wife’s a big fan of sunflowers and heaven knows we could do with a little brightness in our lives as long dark days in lockdown persist. So, I’ll be ditching the dozen red roses in favour of a dozen sunflowers.

№2 — The meal. Now, I’m no expert in the kitchen, but I think I can step up with a simple seafood platter of fresh oysters (all they need is opening and a dash of tabasco) and some grilled tiger prawns. I might not find anything quite as gargantuan as the Vietnamese versions in my local Waitrose, but I reckon I can recreate a decent simulacrum of a South East Asian dressing with some fish sauce, chili, garlic, coriander, lime and sugar.

№3 — The feather in the cap of my plan and the most decadent extravagance (why not? I’m saving in every other area!)… Artisan Champagne. This is not your Moët, Veuve Cliquot or Tattinger from the shelves of Tesco, but a hand crafted, small-batch bottle from a single grower in Champagne. I’ve already made my choice but if you need a little inspiration, take a look at the range available at sipchampagnes.com.

All that’s left is to decide on a movie we’ll both enjoy… which might be where my plan falls apart.