Valentine’s Day 2021: the best chocolates and food gifts to share with the ones you love
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This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that has not affected our editorial judgement.
Truth be told, our favourite Valentine’s celebrations have taken place not out at restaurants or bars, but at home, having a cosy picnic in the living room. Our favourite LPs playing, chilled Champagne flowing, and a selection of delicious foodstuffs with the one we love: that’s a great time, regardless of whether you care for the celebration itself.
Don’t concern yourself with notions of what you’re missing: from an ideal fry-up, to hampers that will form the perfect grazing lunch, to chocolates to languorously indulge in all day: whether you’re coupled-up, living with friends, or on your own, there are ample ways to treat yourself this Valentine’s Sunday.
We took on the arduous task of trying some of the tastiest hampers and most exquisite chocolates in the UK. Here’s what to order now for a memorable Valentine’s feast.
If you’re lucky enough to have browsed the food halls of Harvey Nichols, and are currently missing their delectable delights, this hamper will remind you just how great their produce is.
We love that it’s not too chocolate heavy - although the chocolate fudge is buttery and rich, the rest of the food is more off piste: we particularly love the lemon curd and clotted cream biscuits, and the salted nuts.
All washed down with lashings of their dry, crisp, Brut Champagne. This is the perfect spread for a sexy picnic - there’s even a bag of delicious coffee for the morning after.
Contents:
Harvey Nichols Premier Cru Brut Champagne NV 750ml
2 x Harvey Nichols Salted Nut Selection 200g
Harvey Nichols Sunflower & Pumpkin Seed Brittle 125g
Harvey Nichols Strawberry Hearts Jelly Box 75g
Harvey Nichols Lemon Curd & Clotted Cream Biscuits 200g
Harvey Nichols No.7 Really Chocolatey Fudge 125g
Harvey Nichols House Blend Coarse Ground Coffee 200g
A gorgeous selection of Italian delicacies that will transport your taste buds in an instant.
This is truly a feast. Start with a surprisingly palatable prosecco, while savouring the taste of pesto made with basil fresh from Liguria (you’ll never settle for Sacla again).
There’s everything you need to make the pasta dishes of your dreams, with truffle infused salsa and brilliantly ferrous olive oil - make a giant bowl and eat with two forks, for maximum romance.
The chianti is smooth and full, too - and, as a parentheses - made by an Italian rock star. Ooft.
Contents: Harvey Nichols Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore NV 750ml
Harvey Nichols Chianti 2016 750ml
Harvey Nichols Pesto Alla Genovese 180g
Harvey Nichols Bruschetta di Peperoni 180g
Harvey Nichols Salsa Truffina 130g
Harvey Nichols Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml
Harvey Nichols Balsamic Vinegar 55ml
Harvey Nichols Cantucci 170g
Harvey Nichols House Blend Fine Ground Coffee 200g
Seeking to seriously impress your other half this Valentine's? The Fortnum and Mason's Utterly Smitten Hamper is such a thing as audible gasps are made of.
In a handsome wicker picnic basket – think the sort of hamper the aristocracy take on outings in a Jane Austen novel – you'll find a lovingly curated selection of Fortnum and Mason's finest delectables.
The Blanc de Blanc Champagne is dry, biscuity, and premium. The confectionery is uniformly excellent, though we have a particular soft spot for the dark chocolate covered cherry biscuits – black forest in a tin.
If we have one quibble it's that the selection feels small on first appraisal, but the extraordinary quality – and picnic basket keepsake – makes it worth the cost.
Contents:
Chocolate & Macadamia Biscuits, 200g
Cherrilossus Biscuits, 600g
Strawberry & Gooseberry Preserve, 195g
Valentine's Chocolate Covered Raspberries, 120g
Fortnum's Personalised Blanc de Blancs Champagne, Hostomme, 75cl
Rose Pouchong Tea, 125g Loose Leaf Tin
Miniature Heart Chocolate Truffles Box, 40g
