Great Valentine’s Gifts for Food Lovers

If you’ve found yourself frantically Googling “Valentine’s food gifts” at some point in the last week, I can relate. I’ve pretty much done the same. I couldn’t really find what I was looking for, so that’s why I decided to write this guide on some great Valentine’s gifts for food lovers. I’m good to you like that.

I’ve previously listed some of the best gifts for home cooks (under £25) on this very website, so consider this a sequel of sorts to that. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s, Galentine’s, or Palentine’s – the 14th of February is a nice excuse to treat the people you love to something they’d love. Even if that someone is yourself. Because everyone deserves a tasty treat every now and then.

From bake-at-home pastry kits to some really fishy salt and pepper shakers, these are some excellent Valentine’s gifts for food lovers. Dig in.

Yes, tinned fish is what you’re meant to feed your dog to make sure it’s got a nice glossy coat but it’s also what you should feed your significant other to make sure they’re content in your relationship. This three-pack of sardines and mackerel is a great way to experience the Tinned Fish Market range. Only the best fish go in the tins, packed in fine olive oils and sauces. A quick and easy way to get lunch on the table.

Wake up your lover with a freshly baked croissant and you’ll be in their good books forever. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t pastry chefs with those sorts of capabilities or that sort of patience. Fortunately, Tarla Bakes is at hand to help you out with that. Order yourself one of their kits (they’ve got croissants, pain au chocs, almond croissants and a range of Danishes) and all you’ve got to do is roll, proof, and bake them. Simple.

Buying a full-priced piece of Le Creuset as a gift should be something you save for anniversaries or birthdays. But I’m going to let you in on one of the world’s worst-kept secrets: you can buy loads of reduced-price Le Creuset at TK Maxx. From ceramic mugs and oven dishes to cute salt and pepper shakers, there’s a load of quality gear available for a decent price. And the best part of all is that you don’t have to tell the recipient where you bought it from.

Forget about getting a bouquet of flowers this year. Rocking up to your Valentine’s date with a bag of Torres Truffle Crisps will get you a far better reaction. I’m not personally the biggest fan of truffles and truffle oil but a lot of people are, so I’d say opting for this flavour is a fairly safe bet. It’s also pretty bougie and feels a lot more special than giving someone a packet of ready salted.

Equal parts weird and adorable, this Koi Fish Salt and Pepper Set is an excellent gift for someone that loves seasoning their food while smiling. It doesn't matter whether or not these fit in with your other half’s kitchen aesthetic, they won’t be able to stop shaking them all over their food because of how fun they are. Just the right amount of kitsch, and a gift you can guarantee no one would ever buy themselves.

This complex and peppery olive oil from Saint Rosalia is designed to be used as a finishing oil. That means please, for the love of God, do not use this stuff to fry your aubergines for a parmigiana. This should be drizzled on top of salads and used to add a lift to a plate of pasta or a piece of fish. The packaging is beautiful and anyone who receives this will also be given the gift of knowledge. The knowledge that good olive oil can be a gamechanger.

Yes. That is a Heart Ravioli Stamp. And yes. I have willingly included it within this carefully curated gift guide for food lovers. Why? Because it's disgustingly loveable, and there's nothing your significant other would appreciate more than coming home to a heartfelt dinner made up of homemade heart-shaped ravioli cooked by yours truly.

Sure — a night in with a bottle or two of wine paired with your favourite takeaway is always a safe bet for Valentine's. But I'll be the first to admit that wine isn't always the answer, and something a tad stronger on the booze scale usually goes down a treat. And Sipsmith's latest instalment of gin is just that, a treat.

There was no way we weren't including at least one chocolatey item in this roundup of Valentine's gifts. Chocolate is one of the most romantic gifts to give, after all. See, La Molina's Milk Gianduja Chocolate Spread. Presented in a 220g jar embellished with the bold words "I love you" — we can't think of a better way to kick off V-Day celebrations than with a thick, heaping spread of this on some toast.

There's absolutely nothing sweeter than attempting (attempting being the key word, here) to make your own pizza at home. Especially when it's accompanied by a certified love interest. The perfect date night activity, Ooni's Neapolitan-Style Pizza Bundle comes with everything you need to impress and in the end, delivers a pretty darn delicious pizza.