Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that we love you any less.  It just means that we’d like to stage a mild intervention on behalf of your feet.  Think about it for a minute.  Your feet support all those muscles you carry around each day, they take you to and from your job, they run you around the sports field and they are the first things you kick up when you’ve got a cold beverage in hand.  Don’t you think they deserve a little extra attention?

Now I know that the majority of guys will never admit in public to enjoying a spa treatment that they’ve had, aside from getting a basic massage, and that’s okay.  What I’ve got are a few suggestions for ways you can take care of your feet at home in private.  And if you should you find yourself in the very “unlucky” situation of having to go to a spa for a treatment, we have some great places for you to check out.

by the trial

I once heard the results of a survey that said that the majority of people polled did not actually wash their feet in the shower, assuming that because their feet were already in water, they would get cleaned without any further effort.   I don’t know how clean your feet do or don’t get just from being in water, but a little extra soap probably won’t hurt.

Take your shower as the first opportunity to treat your feet and after letting them soak for a few minutes in the water, you can use what’s called a pumice stone stick to remove dead skin, rough patches and calluses.  Not only will this eliminate dead skin that may cause an odor, it will help to prevent the build-up of further calluses.

When you’ve gotten out of the shower, it’s a great time to trim those toenails because the nail should be soft and fairly easy to cut.  Be sure to cut your nails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails, which happens when the side or corners of your toenails grow down into the skin.

Foot and calf massages are often part of a pedicure at a spa and while I don’t imagine that you will give yourself an intense foot massage after you shower, you can quickly apply a lotion, such as the Body Shop’s Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion for a shot of moisture and cooling sensation, all in one.

If you do feel inclined to venture to a spa, you can rest assured that no nail polish will ever be used on you, unless you ask for it.  Some treatment rooms are communal while others are not, so don’t be afraid to inquire prior to booking an appointment if privacy is a concern.

Mackie Naturals in Mission provides the His Bliss Pedicure for 45 minutes at a cost of $58.  This pedicure includes extra attention to callus removal including foot filing and a clean-up of the nails and toes, as well as the usual care.

The Wild Orange Spa in Abbotsford offers The Men’s Sports Pedicure for 55 minutes at a cost of $65.  Sounds manly, doesn’t it?  Not only do they have specific treatments for men, but they have a men’s lounge area and steam room to enjoy and use prior to and after any treatments you receive.

If you want a spa experience, but would prefer to enjoy it in the comfort of your own home, there are many mobile spa services now available, including Simply Indulge.  They offer a Pure Bliss Pedicure for 45 minutes at a cost of $50.

Now there is no excuse not to make your feet, and those who see them, happy this summer.

In your opinion, is it more romantic to cook for someone or to cook with someone?
To cook WITH someone, for sure! Well… as long as the other person thinks it’s romantic as well. Don’t get me wrong, it is also great to surprise your special someone with a romantic meal and seduce them, but there’s something very sensual about prepping food together… feeding each other little samples, enjoying some wine and soft music, and dressing up like you were going out… make an event out of it.

Knowing some people are intimidated by cooking a romantic dinner for their sweethearts, what are some no-fail dinner ideas?
The menu you decide on does not have to be complicated, however it should be meaningful. The first thought that comes to mind is to prepare their favourite food. If this is a dish that you cannot prepare at home then have it ordered in or pre-purchase parts of it ahead of time to !ease your preparation. Don’t worry about making everything from scratch if it is beyond your means and capability. Your thoughtfulness is the most meaningful ingredient.

Add extra simple courses, rather than just having a main course and dessert. A fresh pile of mixed colourful greens with a good dressing or a few pieces of unique cheeses with some grapes and a small glass of wine make delicious courses. All of the elements to make these extra courses can be purchased direct from the store and assembled together to ease your preparation. Now you can express to your Sweetheart that you made them a “four course romantic dinner”. An example of a quick enchanting dessert would be chocolate covered strawberries.

by price_photography

Where do you shop for fresh local ingredients?
There are a number of great local markets and I tend to shop at all of them. My biggest recommendation to people is build relationships with the owners and staff so that they know you and will be pleased to serve you. You will be surprised how much they will go out of their way to make sure a well-known customer is taken care of. Call them ahead of time and pre-order any specialty items you may need.

What’s the best way to make sure all the appetizers and dinner dishes are finished at the correct time and in the right order?
When organizing huge dinner parties I make multiple lists and schedules. You obviously don’t have to be so organized for a small romantic meal, but if one feels intimidated by being in the kitchen, breaking the steps down will definitely help. One should at least do as much of the chopping/measuring of ingredients earlier in the day and have them labeled and ready to go for later.

Can you recommend some great local wines to pair with dinner?
For local wines, I would have to say that my favourite white wine is the Bacchus from Domaine de Chaberton Winery in Langley – at less than $15 per bottle, it is an incredible deal.  My favourites in reds changes all the time, but the most local one I am drinking right now is Sumac Ridge’s Black Sage Merlot from their vineyard in Oliver, BC.

What would you recommend as a ‘romantic’ dessert to serve after dinner?
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate! There are so many great chocolate dessert recipes to choose from as well. Utilize the Internet, your local library, or call your local gourmet food store and ask for some suggestions. Find out what your sweetheart’s favourite fruit is and do a recipe that combines this fruit with chocolate for a sure fire winner!

Do you have any tips for setting the right mood for dinner?
The table setting is very important and should harmonize with the mood you are trying to establish. Candles are a must, but there are other things you can do to make it memorable. Silk rose petals or heart-shaped confetti scattered on the table is a nice touch. Compliment that with red cloth napkins and a love letter tied up with a ribbon, and you will have them swooning.

Make sure you have enough pieces of cutlery set to accommodate each course and use your best wine glasses. A glass of wine always looks very elegant.  If wine is not desirable, then fill the glass with red or white grape juice.

A finishing touch on the table would be a fresh bouquet of flowers. Long stemmed red roses are perfect for Valentine’s Day, however they will be impressed already by your efforts and carnations or a mixed arrangement will also do.

The room environment is equally influential. If you have children, make arrangements for them to spend the evening, or at least part of it, away from home or kept busy in another room. Be certain that you serve dinner in a light controlled room and have access to music. Lastly, make sure that the room is tidy. It is much harder to set a mood if the area is cluttered with everyday items.

by Emanuele Tagliaferri™

Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory?
When my wife Katherine and I were first dating, we had dinner at a nice hotel with a piano bar and dancing. I surprised her by special ordering a wood carving from her home town in North Western Ontario to add to her collection. The evening was magical. Every Valentine’s day since, however, has been just as special in their own ways. What we now really enjoy best is just spending the evening in the kitchen and cooking with each other.

If your sweetheart was going to prepare your dream meal for Valentine’s Day, what would that be?
This is a tough one as there are so many things I love to eat.  My wife makes a killer gnocchi (potato pasta) with a pork tomato sauce. It would have to be accompanied with a great glass of red wine, a crusty loaf of homemade Italian bread and I would be completely satisfied.

She is also an incredible baker and all of her desserts are amazing, but I would have choose my hands-down favourite to end the meal – Creme Caramel. It is like Creme Brulee, but the sugar is caramelized first and poured into the ramekins, and then the raw custard is added. After baking and cooling it is inverted and emptied onto a plate. The beautifully delicate custard holds its shape and the residual caramelized sugar surrounds it like a sauce. I go to heaven with every bite!