Attention, lovebirds: It's not a successful Valentine's Day if it doesn't end with a lavish, romantic dinner. (After all, we all know that it's food, not French, that's the real language of love.) So when you're planning your date-night meal, go all out with Valentine recipes meant to impress. Start with a cocktail (something with <a href="/recipes/drinks/cocktails-mixed/champagne/">Champagne</a> is always good bet), then offer a few small nibbles. (Icy cold oysters on the half shell are sensual and have a lingering reputation as an aphrodisiac. Perhaps more importantly, they won't fill you up before the meal.) Your main course should feel luxurious; so fill your plate with foods that make you feel special. Calories be damned - what you want dishes with a major wow factor, like tender, juicy <a href="/recipes/steak/filet/">filet mignon</a> or sweet steamed <a href="/recipes/seafood/lobster/">lobster</a> (served with melted butter, of course). And don't even think about skipping dessert. Nothing says "I love you" like a plate piled high with plump strawberries dipped in rich chocolate or a heart-shaped dessert like molten <a href="/recipes/desserts/chocolate/cake/">chocolate cake</a>.
