Valentine's Day is the second worst day of the year to go to a restaurant. The first worst being Mother's Day. There are tons of things you can do besides a restaurant for Valentine's Day. It'll show creativity and more effort than just making a reservation.

1. Have a private chocolate & wine pairing for two. The easiest way is buying the Ghirardelli Intense Moments Gift Box. It comes with a wine pairing guide. If you want to put together your own matches, here are some guidelines and suggestions. My favorite pairing, discovered at a candy show in November, is the Cacao Reserve Milk Chocolate Truffle with a chilled Michael Mondavi Riesling.

2. Get a heart-shaped cookie cutter and make any every day food more special. Heart-shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwich, heart-shaped grilled cheese, heart-shaped rice krispy treats?

3. Make your place into your own private Japanese restaurant. Order from your favorite sushi place and display the sushi on sushi boards or boats. You can also buy chopsticks, little plates, and soy sauce/wasabi dishes and set up your own Japanese table. These serving sets are available at several Asian Markets. If you're in New York City, try Kam Man Kam Man. They have an entire floor downstairs with a lot to choose from. To top it off, you can get sake and sake serving-ware.

4. Make your special someone a special tasting geared towards whatever they like. For me it would be a cheese tasting, but tasting can be done with so many other foods. How about olives, teas, or even potato chips?

5. Of course, it is always impressive to make a whole dinner. Don't get too far ahead of your skill level. Very simple preparations can be impressive. If you're not a cook, focus on presentation. Get flowers for the table, nice napkins, and a table cloth. Feel free to buy dessert, just don't serve it in the box. Put it on a nice plate.

We hope these recommendations entice your mate and make you seem like a sweetheart! These tips are equally applicable for both men and women. Let us know what you try and how it works out... Happy V-Day!