Setting The Tone: How To Get Romantic This Valentine's Day

Graham’s Chocolates offers chocolate-dipped Oreos that are hand-decorated with hearts for Valentine’s Day. (Heather Nelson)

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It’s that time of year when pink and red hearts are plastered on every store window, flyer and piece of candy a person might run across.

While these small symbols of Valentine’s Day may not necessarily set the tone for romance, they are reminders of the purpose of the holiday: to demonstrate one’s love for another.

But before their heart starts thudding over the stress of finding the right way to show they care, lovers should remember that anything can be a gift if it’s given in love.

Even something as ordinary as eating dinner can set the mood for a romantic occasion, says Jennifer Piazza, director of sales and marketing at The Herrington Inn and Spa in Geneva.

“A fine dining experience is really a gift when it’s done correctly, because you have some very talented individuals in the kitchen and some very talented service individuals working together to make a fantastic, elegant experience for a couple, which definitely lends to romance,” she says.

In addition to inspiring a romantic experience, The Herrington also is a gift for the eyes, offering diners a cozy fireplace, a view of the Fox River and soft background music that creates a setting Piazza says helps couples “feel regal.”

That regal feeling is a gift to both parties enjoying a romantic dining experience, and Piazza believes it should be.

“The important thing is to treat yourself and get away and focus on one another,” she says. “That romance gets stirred up when you put it together with the ambiance of your surroundings.

“Thankfully, most of the time, dining establishments have a no-cell phone policy, and that enables a couple to disconnect for a few hours and really focus on one another,” she continues. “A fine dining experience removes variables that detract from their time together.”

The Herrington does all it can to fill that special time together with everything a couple could desire, even adding to their regular menu a prix fixe option that incorporates romantic favorites such as steak and lobster.

The truly beautiful aspect of a special dining experience is that couples can enjoy it wherever they happen to be together.

To set a romantic mood at home, Piazza suggests organizing candles and soft dinner music along with “plenty of preparation” when it comes to the meal. She also suggests including as many of the couple’s favorite items as possible to make a nice — and well-balanced — menu, so that everybody feels good afterward.

But after a meal, there’s room and time left over for more delicious romance. Jayni Wunderlich, family employee at Graham’s Fine Chocolates And Ice Cream in Geneva, says that chocolate can help maintain a loving mood for couples.

“It’s a romantic way to celebrate with something sweet for somebody who’s your sweetie,” she says.
One of the most romantic approaches — especially to Valentine’s Day — is personalization.

“Valentine’s Day is one of the most personalized holidays for us,” she says. “People come in and they know that their loved one — their boyfriend, their girlfriend, their wife, husband, mother — they really like ‘X’ chocolate, and it’s always something that’s really specific.”

To help customers put a personal touch on sweet gifts, Graham’s invites visitors to fill heart-shaped boxes with an assortment of chocolates aligned with the taste of the ones they love.

“So, they’re getting the chocolate that they really like, but they’re getting it in a really fun way,” Wunderlich says.

Other Valentine’s Day gift suggestions include decorated mint meltaways, classic conversation hearts and large chocolate hearts with loving phrases, molded items, and heart-shaped boxes made out of chocolate themselves — and then filled with chocolate to boot.

For parents who want to treat their children, Graham’s offers sucker pops and heart-shaped pops.

While chocolate can be a tasty end to a deliciously sweet evening, it also pairs well with romantic items such as wine and champagne, particularly truffles and chocolate-covered strawberries, Wunderlich says.

Visitors to Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse in Geneva also may enjoy chocolate fondue either inside the shop or on the go for a delectable post-dinner treat. The coffeehouse’s bring-your-own-beverage license welcomes many couples in for a romantic night of fondue complete with favorites from home.

“People love to come in on Valentine’s Day as a couple or as a family and share chocolate fondue,” Wunderlich says. “That’s really romantic because you can pick out your dipping selections and share it together.”   kc