Fortnum & Mason - Piccadilly since 1707

For an impressive but effortless Valentine’s Day feast, turn to Fortnum’s Food Halls, where romance is in the air.

The one thing that is guaranteed to win your lover’s heart is an extravagant and indulgent feast, filled entirely with the foods of love. But if your heart sinks at the thought of a crowded restaurant or long hours in the kitchen, Fortnum’s has the solution – a menu of simple but divine things that require no effort but promise maximum enjoyment.

To start, may we suggest the classic foods for lovers – oysters, caviar, foie gras and truffles. Any one of these alone, with a glass of something divine, would be a feast in itself. Our Foie Gras Slice, for example, needs only a fresh green salad and a glass of sake to turn it into a banquet. The clean, wildflower bouquet of our Niigata Star Sake is the perfect partner for the rich, smooth foie gras. As with a happy marriage, each brings out the best in the other.

Similarly Fortnum’s Iberico Bellota Ham is superb by itself but tremendous when enjoyed with a glass of rare, aged sherry. Made from acorn-fed pigs, the meat is cured, slow-dried and aged for three years, creating a sweet, intense delicacy. Paired with Fortnum’s Oloroso VORS, it simply melts on the tongue.

It is virtually compulsory to mention caviar at this point; for some, caviar and champagne is the only way to celebrate this day. Our range includes the classic varieties, Beluga and Aquitaine, or you could enjoy a tasting session with our Valentine's Caviar Quartet, which offers four contrasting caviars in a single tin. Serve with a bottle of Fortnum's Valentine's Champagne - our best Blanc de Blancs decorated with a Valentine’s Day label. The champagne would also go rather well with a Dozen Oysters, which come complete with Tabasco and half a lemon.

A meal in itself, or a fine way to end a good dinner, our Squidgy Cheese Selection includes soft hearts of Stilton, Chevre and gooey Neufchatel as well as take a helping of Brillat Savarin, covered with cranberries, which add a sharp bite to the fudgy, creamy texture. For smaller helpings, simply choose a Stilton Heart by itself and serve with some crisp cheese biscuits.

If you feel like doing a little cooking, you could offer your love a single Fresh Black Perigord Truffle, presented like a jewel in an eau de nil box. Then take it to the kitchen and grate it over scrambled eggs or into rice, or scatter delicate slices over pizza, baked potatoes or a juicy steak for a fantastically earthy and pungent flavour.

If your Valentine’s appetite is a little more demanding, we have several hearty suggestions, beginning with Hearty Beef Wellington, a classic dish of prime beef with mushroom duxelle in puff pastry which just needs a hot oven and a glass of red wine. Our Lobster-studded Beef is equally substantial, offering a prime piece of fillet studded with a lobster tail, pan-seared and ready to roast. And for an instant meal, our Valentine's Pork Pie might be the answer – this is a classic Fortnum’s hand-raised pork pie, with a heart detail cut into its pastry lid.

And to finish? There’s really no debate – it must be something very rich and very chocolatey. Our heart-shaped Le Creuset Chocolate Pots will round off any meal beautifully, as they are filled with a delectable concoction of chocolate and cream.

It should go without saying that we have a great deal more on offer at Fortnum’s Food Halls with which to delight your favourite person, including Valentine's chocolates, Valentine's hampers and excellent wines and champagne of all kinds. Whatever you choose, we feel sure that this year’s Valentine’s Day feast will prove unforgettable.