STEP 1: Food.

Since it's the holiday of love, De Marte is all about the aphrodisiacs. “Honey, asparagus, arugula, oysters, garlic, basil, pine nuts, truffles, fennel, mustard, blackberries—there are so many,” she enthuses. “You can easily plan a three-course or more meal using these ingredients.” For her own celebration, De Marte is crafting a six-course aphrodisiac tasting menu that’s “chock full of sexy food and beverage pairings, properly named something seductively funny,” she says.

First Course: "Under the Sea" - Oysters (with horseradish, mignonette, hot sauce, and lemon); Brut Rosé Champagne

Second Course: "Chasing Tail"  - Espresso and coriander spiced shrimp, phyllo nest, and special sauce; Chenin Blanc

Third Course: "Rock It Salad" - Arugula and fennel salad with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, and lemon dressing; Pouilly-Fuissé

Fourth Course: "Italian Lovers Lane" - Asparagus, white truffle and pine nut risotto, and opal basil; Pouilly-Fumé or Chablis

Fifth Course: "Stuck on You" - Pesto-crusted lamb chops; Cabernet Sauvignon

Sixth Course: "Love Bomb" - Chocolate mousse filling, raspberry sauce; Woodford Reserve Bourbon

STEP 2: Drinks. 

De Marte suggests mixing up an aphrodisiac cocktail, too. If you’re hosting a large group rather than a one-on-one date, package the cocktail’s ingredients into a styled box to send home with each guest as a party favor. “Pull from the aphrodisiac list and create a cocktail that fits perfectly with the theme of the party or menu,” De Marte says. Her concoction is dubbed Bruised Bottom.

Ingredients:
4 mint leaves
4 blackberries
2 ounces gin
1 ounce St-Germain
1/2 lemon, juiced
Dash of agave nectar
Dash of red pepper
Ice
Gummy hearts

Muddle the mint in a cocktail shaker. Add the berries and muddle to combine. Add the gin, St-Germain, lemon juice, agave, and ice, and shake. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with a gummy heart.

STEP 3: Styling.

Of course, pretty place settings help set the mood. De Marte uses a mix of red and white elements for a Valentines-themed tablescape: white linen, red chairs, red Chinese lanterns, and red florals, for instance. “Alternatively, pink sparkly linen, silver charger plates, and patterned China work well with giant gold ‘X’ and ‘O’ balloons and gold confetti,” De Marte says. She also suggests making a game for guests when they find their seats. “At each place setting, place a name card with one of the aphrodisiacs from the menu on it, and what makes it an aphrodisiac,” she says. De Marte suggests Phil Collins, "Easy Lover" as background music.