Valentine’s Day is a holiday that really divides people.  For the time being let’s just ignore all the teddy bears that say “I wuv you,” men secretly shouting hallmark holiday in rage behind their wives and girlfriends backs, expensive red roses, cheap chocolate hearts, and the extreme bitterness emanating from any single woman over the age of 30 who has been forced to be a bridesmaid more than 3 times in the last year.  That is all someone else’s problem.  I only care about food.  I can always see the benefit in a holiday gives you an excuse to eat (it is all that’s missing from President’s Day).  V-Day is no Thanksgiving, so sadly the food does not come without a cost.  As a child Valentine’s Day equates to a fabulous sugar high.  Best of all you have free reign to eat in class.  The cost is that in 3rd grade you are terrified about choosing the wrong card for the boy two seats over (god forbid he ignores the blatant message of devotion when you “chu-chu choose him” or read way too much into “have a rad day”).  In high school there is more candy, likely it’s chocolate this time.  But you still have to deal with the self esteem boosting/demolishing delivery of flowers to your homeroom classroom.

Valentine’s Day in college is best spent out drinking and not competing with actual adults for reservations at the handful of quality restaurants in most college towns.  Being an adult is the worst as there are actual expectations of romance to deal with. Most people would rather avoid eye contact with that cute person they see at the bar in January then get stuck having to decide whether they have an obligation to go out with their new man friend or lady friend on Valentine’s Day.  If you make the bold move of deciding yes, as opposed to not answering your phone for two weeks, do you have to get them a small gift? Where do you take them?  What if Mr. New Guy is allergic to chocolate or is a vegan? (Let’s be honest, I’ve never had to worry about that, no self respecting vegan is ever going to ask my cheeseburger worshipping butt out).

It may be a little bit easier to be in a relationship mid-February, as your obligations to associate are clearly spelled out for you, but trying to get a restaurant reservation past the 10th is best described as not fun.  You can always try the “I absolutely intended to take you to dinner at 3:15 pm on a Saturday because I want to spend as much time with you as possible tonight” route.  I’m a huge fan of utilizing the “I didn’t forget it was Valentine’s Day, again, I just wanted to relax at home with a great movie and a home cooked meal.”  Despite all these minor annoyances the light at the end of the tunnel is usually some great drinks and a solid meal.  Whether it be out at a bar with your friends (no longer avoiding eye contact with strangers), ordering some great deep dish at home, or dunking stuff in hot oil and cheese at a packed fondue restaurant, there will be food.   At the end of the day Valentine’s Day is really just another excuse to eat a really good meal (and to buy some fabulously cheap candy on the 15th).

By:

Rachel Ford