More than pickled pig’s tongue on offer this Valentine’s Day

The golden-haired cherub with his golden bow and arrow has no fear of heights, as he skirts the Botswana “overland high” or flies with the trade winds blowing in from Mozambique. His mission is to bring love to mortals wherever he chooses to find them, whether in Dete or Dotito, Chirundu or Chivu.
As February 14 fast approaches, Cupid is gilding his bow and making his arrows extra sharp. Be warned that if you are pierced by one of Cupid’s arrows, you will fall truly, madly and deeply in love with the very next person you see!
Cupid works in cahoots with St Valentine, whose name day is celebrated on February 14. This accounts for the current proliferation in newspapers of full-page spreads from leading supermarkets, offering a variety of gifts.
Chose from Valentine cards, chocolates, Rose wine, coffee mugs decorated with hearts, cute little white teddy bears in PVC gift bags and single red roses in cellophane tubes.
If you have just sold some shares or come into an inheritance, you could buy the woman in your life a bottle of Chanel No 5, the world’s most legendary fragrance. A bottle of this sells worldwide every 30 seconds. Or you could say it with flowers and swear eternal love by giving her a large bunch of velvety red roses.
Girls, if your loved one is showing signs of middle age spread, buy him firming gel for his love handles. But if you want to be sweet and loving, a set of Beats by Dr Dre (high definition headphones) would be nice, especially if you choose a red pair. Incurable romantics love champagne and wine: just avoid giving anything as mundane as socks or cuff links.
By coincidence, Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year both fall on the same day this year.
Red symbolises good luck in the New Year, and is also the colour of true love, making this a fortuitous day for a combined celebration.
Since a candle-lit dinner for two is traditional for lovers everywhere, why not visit your nearest Chinese restaurant for a superb meal? In this way, Cupid will have you both in his sights, and you can also look forward to good fortune throughout 2010, the Year of the Tiger.
It is said that fish head, goose legs and pickled pig’s tongue are popular dishes to eat at Chinese New Year, but local restaurants offer many other alternatives. Sweet and sour bream and bream with black beans are favourites at New Year, as well as Kung Pao, a delicious combination of chicken, peanuts and red chilli peppers.
The last time Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year fell on the same day was in 1900, and the next combined celebration will be in 2030.
Harare is fortunate in having numerous Chinese restaurants, each one with something slightly different to offer. So unless you feel that Cupid demands a meal of champagne and oysters, visit your nearest Chinese restaurant on Valentine’s Day, and hope for true love and good luck throughout 2010.