Valentine’s Day: An Alternative Take

February 10, 2014 by NJ_Chef 2 Comments

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. One of the busiest nights for any restaurant out there. The dining room is going to be packed and the waiting list is going to be miles long. The wait time may very stretch into hours long and the amount of money spent will more than likely make every one in the kitchen happy, but it’s all worth it to impress your significant other, right? Right?

What if I told you that it really wasn’t? Now, before I get attacked by an angry mob of chefs and line cooks looking for their Valentine’s Day bonus, let me just clarify the point I’m making. I’m not saying “Don’t go out on Valentine’s Day.” What I’m saying is that there are other, perhaps cheaper, alternatives for those cash-strapped couples who want to spend time together without blowing the bank account to smithereens.

To put things in perspective, the average person 21 years and older, spends $116 every February 14. A man in the same age range spends even more, peaking at $150. This factors into the 80% increase in profit that restaurants see during the week of Valentine’s Day. On average, that equates to just above $15,000 into the pockets of chefs, cooks and front-of-house staff. Here’s the big question now: Is it money well spent, when you don’t have a lot of money in the first place?

A nice, home-cooked meal for your significant other can have the same effect as treating them to a posh dinner at the best restaurant in town. It may even make them happier, knowing that you cooked the meal yourself. And surprise: it actually costs less. No wait, no need for a reservation, no breaking the bank account and you’re both quite happy by night’s end. People often appreciate a simple gesture over a complicated one, and in this case, a home-made meal will go miles further than going out to a fancy restaurant (though I’m sure the restaurant staff will appreciate the cash).

Give this idea a thought this Valentine’s Day. Try impressing your significant other with a home-made meal. It will cost you less and I can guarantee it will give you the same results.