Are Valentine’s Day decisions stressing you out? As you know, the way to the heart is always through the stomach. Don’t let the burden of choosing where to eat on 14 February fizzle out your romance. We quizzed four veteran couples with F&B connections on what they’d be doing on the day, and throw in some of our own recommendations for good measure.

Tip 1: Desserts never disappoint

Sweet gifts hit the spot, especially when they come in luxe forms like Antoinette‘s Across the Universe ($18) for two to share. Chef Pang’s terrarium cake is a passionate concoction with a gold ’diamond’ of chocolate resting on fresh rose petals. The rest comprise rose almond sponge cake with layers of almond nougatine, raspberry crumble, yuzu cream, lychee and rose petal mousse. Pre-order 3 days in advance, www.antoinette.com.sg

With eight locations, there’s Paul Singapore to escape to for a sweet finish. To be specific, pamper him with the Extra Large Macaron ($7.40) that comes in coffee, chocolate, raspberry, pistachio and vanilla, or practice your French kisses over the millefeuille fraise ($7.80), a layered puff pastry with custard cream
and strawberries. www.paul-singapore.com

For a more romantic interlude, escape to Sentosa to the Mà¶venpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa where–you guessed it–their signature smooth ice cream features on the Valentine’s menu ($138 nett) from 12-14 Feb, 6.30-10pm. After dining on suft ’n turf items such as grilled Angus tenderloin with baked oyster with béarnaise sauce, check out award-winning pastry chef Edwin Leow’s creative dessert selections such as coffee hazelnut creameux, crunchy dulcey chocolate tart and crepes suzette with orange liqueur sauce. Tel: 6818 3305

Roger Yip, Hopscotch bar owner + Loh Ting Yan, full-time student

Ting Yan: As Valentine’s Day is a special occasion for all couples out, there will definitely be long queues everywhere. So perhaps I’ll choose Pince and Pints for a lobster fix or buffets such as Melt The World Buffet or Edge with an early reservation.
Roger: My bar! I’ll most probably be working there on Valentine’s after the buffet dinner with her. She has really been craving to go to Melt’s buffet for their dessert section, so I’ll probably take her there to make sure she’s sufficiently happy before taking her to the workplace, ha ha.

 

Tip 2: Try something new together

Variety is the spark of life, so why not take the chance to discover new tastes and experiences? Catalunya has a cheese and wine platter ($65) featuring five Spanish cheeses and three Spanish wines of Verdejo, Tempranillo and Pedro Ximenez. Explore a fruity, sweet Manchego or swoon over a Murcia al Vino. 8-14 Feb, lunch and dinner. www.catalunya.com

Me@OUE serves up a His and Her menu for the first time, with a choice of four- ($125, 13 Feb only) or six-courses ($245, 13-14 Feb), complemented with sweeping views of the bay. Here’s your chance to bond while you taste a variety of new dishes like lobster Thermidor or foie gras together. Guys will enjoy pan-seared duck breast while the ladies nosh on miso cod in both menus, while the expanded gastronomical menu also includes a sashimi tasting, pan-seared scallop (for her), pan-seared foie gras (for him), lobster Thermidor (for her) and wagyu (for him). www.me-oue.com

Kevin Gomez + Andik Nurdiany-Gomez, Founders Of Yip’s Cookies & More and Anza

Kevin: I like familiarity so I would probably go to Le Steak. We have been there many times and have always enjoyed dining there.
Andik: Definitely, Fatboy’s The Burger Bar. Been wanting to try their burgers for ages but am afraid of the calories, so Valentine’s is the perfect day to be spoilt with fat-laden good awesome food!

 

Tip 3: Meaty appetites

Skip the dainty diet and go all out to satisfy your lust for a good steak. Bedrock Bar & Grill offers up the aptly named Partners in Crime ($148)–braised boneless U.S. beef short ribs and brown butter lobster tail served with smoked San Marzano tomatoes, asparagus, truffle béarnaise and au jus. The set for two is available 10-16 Feb, for lunch and dinner. Reservations: 6238 0054

Get all dressed up for Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, where the 5-course set dinner ($158) brings on the best of Fine de Claire oysters; Canadian Lobster, wrapped in parma ham, served with cauliflower cream and avruga caviar; Australian grass-fed tenderloin with foie gras, and a Chocolate Medley dessert. Trust us, book the window seats. Two seatings: 6-8pm, 8.30-11pm. 14 Feb only. www.wooloo-mooloo.com/sg/singapore.aspx

Bonnie Wong, Director Marketing and Business Development at Creative Eateries, + Joshua Tan, corporate lawyer

Bonnie: The first place I would like to eat at is at home, as I enjoy preparing a meal for the two of us to share.
Joshua: I prefer either her house or mine, where we get to cook whatever we want (something interesting out of a cookbook, and almost always with steaks).
Bonnie: The second place is Basilico at Regent Hotel, as it is one of the first places where we celebrated our anniversary.
Joshua: Lawry’s. Many of my favourite memories were made there and it never disappoints!

 

Tip 4: As long as you’re together

Plan a walk, fishing trip” ¦ even a buffet with a view (see p. 10). Whether you’re working on that day or have been married for 15 years, what’s important is that you let each other know you’ll be there for them for the long run. But if you’d like to reignite that spark, the BiTES team recommends the superb value-for-money deal at Park Hotel Clarke Quay‘s Canopy of Stars Staycation Package ($298 per room per night) in a Superior Room. The stay ensures that you won’t go hungry with the romantic Canopy of Stars 4-course set dinner in Cocobolo–already worth $138 per couple–and buffet breakfast for two. www.parkhotelgroup.com/clarkequay

Veronica Zuzarte, consultant/director at Sixth Sense Communications + Peter Robertson, sensei at ZDK Elite Fitness Studio

Veronica: I’d like to go for dinner on Bohol island overlooking the sunset.
Peter: Wherever my wife goes I go. She knows the best places and I am never disappointed (except when the food has too much chilli!)
Veronica: But the ultimate Valentine’s destination” ¦ is simply to be by his side.

 

1 February 2016