Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day - one of those holidays that is loved and loathed in equal measure.

Some people see it coming months in advance and lay out ridiculously elaborate plans, while others move through February blissfully (or perhaps willfully) unaware of the approaching holiday. But then suddenly, it’s just a few days before The Big Day and you’re scrambling to come up with a last-minute plan that seems impressive and thoughtful!

Whatever your reason is for the eleventh-hour planning frenzy, whether your relationship just started or you simply forgot it was coming, Little Scarlet has you covered. Here are Little Scarlet’s two favorite “last-minute” ideas for Valentine’s Day (and if you don’t happen to live in the New York metropolitan area, they’re versatile enough that you can whip them up in your own hometown).

Idea #1: The Grand Gesture

Fancy restaurants are often the first thought for most couples on Valentine’s Day, but there’s something even more romantic about someone going through the effort of preparing a home-cooked meal for you, especially if it’s paired with good wine and candles!

This year, let Brooklyn’s Red Hook Lobster Pound do the heavy lifting for you. For $140 ($115 without wine), they will provide you with a 15-qt lobster pot with a steamer insert (a great gift by itself if your valentine happens to be a lobster lover!), two 1.5-lb lobsters, a bottle of champagne (or other wine, if you prefer), and chocolates. And if you’re lucky, the rest of the package (“Morning After Green Chorizo Sausage” from The Meat Hook and 10-oz of Crop to Cup coffee) will be a welcome addition!

Call for reservations (646.326.7650), or e-mail (redhooklobster@gmail.com) - hurry, these are going fast!

To round out this Valentine’s Day lobster dinner, Little Scarlet recommends serving smashed red potatoes as a side. To make, simply halve baby red potatoes and boil with the skin on for ten minutes or until cooked, then drain most of the liquid (reserving a few tablespoons) and smash the potatoes with the back of a fork until they are broken. Mix in sour cream and some of the reserved potato water, and top with fresh dill.

Idea #2: “U R 2 CUTE” (Valentine’s Day for the kid in you)

If you’re looking for a more low-key Valentine’s Day, or if your sweetheart has a soft-spot for lace doilies, paper cut-out hearts, and conversation hearts, Peanut Butter & Co. has the perfect date for you! Their “Sweetheart’s Snack” menu goes for the low rate of $35, but the cuteness factor is immeasurable.

Reservations are recommended - 212.677.3995

Four heart-shaped sandwiches are served with potato chips and carrot sticks, alongside big glasses of plain or strawberry milk, complete with a twirly, heart-shaped crazy-straw for two. Candy conversation hearts and a PB&J pretzel sundae (vanilla ice cream, peanut butter pretzels, and melba sauce) finish off the meal, and they’ll even throw in a jar of Peanut Butter & Co.’s all-natural peanut butter as a keepsake. Although their peanut butter is so good you won’t want to keep this on your shelf very long!