Getting a little fresh is the key to a great Valentine's Day meal, according to Fairmont Hamilton Princess chef George Muhlbacher.Mr Muhlbacher is executive sous chef at the hotel, and also sometimes gives cooking classes in the community. We recently met up with him to get his tips and tricks for planning a romantic meal, and impressing that special someone.“The company is the secret to a great romantic meal,” said Mr Muhlbacher with a laugh. “But food also has to be fresh and light. I really like fresh ingredients. Certainly, using ingredients that aren't fresh can spoil a meal. Fresh adds colour and flavour. If you prep it properly, don't deep fry it, it is a light meal and your body will feel good afterward.“Cooking was very popular a few years ago, but people don't take the time anymore. With all the take-out restaurants people are losing their passion. Good food takes time. You feel good if you eat fresh food that is cooked yourself.”Planning would probably be the first step to a successful Valentine's Day meal. You probably don't want to wait until the last minute to frantically cruise the internet in search of a meal that you are capable of cooking.If you plan to eat in, but don't have a lot of time, Mr Muhlbacher advised getting part of the meal ready earlier in the week. Considering that Valentine's Day is on Monday, the weekend would probably be a good time to start working on it. He suggested that things like potatoes could be boiled ahead of time, as could soups.Presentation can be very important in setting the tone. Mr Muhlbacher cooked us a demonstration meal that included toast cut into hearts using cookie cutters. Even the most inept home cook should be able to manage a heart carved out of toast. “For Valentine's Day I like a lot of red colours in the meal,” said Mr Muhlbacher. “Food needs to be vibrant with lots of colour that really makes you want to eat it.”In addition to the toast, he had also carved a red heart out of delicious, sweet watermelon complementing a salad and cut strawberries. Be warned that there are some traditional Valentine's Day foods that can go horribly wrong, namely oysters.If you don't know how to prep them, this might not be the day to take a stab at it. Try it and perfect it on another day, so you'll be ready when Valentine's Day comes. Also, check with your significant other before serving them, as not everyone is keen on them.In terms of what to serve with the meal, champagne is always an impressive choice.“Instead of champagne you could use prosecco to start off,” said Mr Muhlbacher. “It is a bit cheaper than champagne, but very flavourful. If you are having meat, go more for red wine. You could have red with fish but white wine is preferable.”Mr Muhlbacher said that if you plan to go out for Valentine's Day, again, planning is the key. Don't wait until 4pm on Monday to decide where to eat.“You should always do your homework and find out what meals are available in the different restaurants,” he said. “Choose a place that is not too busy where you can spend some quality time with the lady or man.”As it happens, the Fairmont Hamilton Princess is offering a special five-course Valentine's Day meal in Harley's Restaurant.Mr Muhlbacher said he does a lot of the cooking at home. Unfortunately, he said, he will be working on Valentine's Day, but he and his wife Angelika would probably go out for a drink and have a martini to celebrate that's the life of a chef.Useful website: www.fairmont.com/hamilton