The recipe for romance: Combine one part floral bouquet, one part fine red wine and one part luscious dinner entree.

You know where to get the flowers, and you can confer with your favorite wine merchant when it comes to buying a fine wine that fits your budget.

But the meal is where your talents will shine when you’re cooking a Valentine’s Day meal with your partner.

Forget trendy; forget experimental cuisines. A romantic dinner shouldn’t surprise the taste buds.

Instead, look to culinary classics for inspiration and prepare time-honored beef stroganoff. The dish is familiar and comforting yet seductive in its richness.

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There’s a romantic meal coming up for you on the 14th, and your date likes wine. Problem is, you’re not really up on the wine/food pairing thing.

Allow us to present the Swirl Girls’ Guide for the Clueless Guy. We will take the guessing out of it, so you can either show up with a good wine under your arm, or you can help order one at a restaurant. A great meal and a good wine choice can send your dinner from the ho-hum into the heavenly sphere.

From appetizers to chocolate, here are the tried-and-true pairing, as well as some we’ve marked “adventurous” that will both taste great and impress your date with your considerable (!) wine knowledge. We’ve covered both vegetarians and carnivores in our listings and we included wines for every taste in the under-$25 wines on a budget and over-$25 wines-that-impress categories.

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In this year of saving money and cutting back, consider curling up with your honey and a cheesy Valentine.

Papa John’s is making heart-shaped pizzas. The a thin crust pizza comes piled high with your sweeties’ favorite topping, along with an order of Chocolate Pastry Delights for $14.99, or two one-topping heart-shaped pizzas for $19.99.
It is available through Sunday, Feb. 15 at participating restaurants nationwide.