THEY say the way to someone's heart is through their stomach and if that's true, Valentine's Day is the most important day to put something scrumptious on the plate.

That's why Emma Coutts, the head chef at Warwick RSL Memorial Club, has given a few handy hints for easy, delicious things to cook for your loved one.

1. Use cherries

Mrs Coutts said cherries can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes to please the tastebuds.

It may seem unlikely, but lamb is actually a perfect pair for the fruit.

"You can make a sauce with cherries and rosemary, lamb is very nice at the moment and it's come down in price which is very good,” Mrs Coutts said.

As for dessert, there's no need to get too complicated.

"There's plenty of no-bake style panna cotta cakes that people can make that are fairly quick and easy,” Mrs Coutts said.

2. Fry up some fish

Both salmon and barramundi are great choices from the sea at this time of year.

Mrs Coutts suggested pan-frying the fish to give it a nice, crispy skin.

"It's really simple, especially with some lime juice and butter once you've seared it and then that acts as the sauce,” she said.

3. Add fruit to salads

It might seem controversial to some, but Mrs Coutts said adding fruit to salad was very romantic.

She suggested using mango and strawberries in a salad with feta, baby greens, walnuts and sliced red onion.

"That's very fun, fruity and flirty,” she said.

4. Go back to basics with chicken

Chicken is great at any time of year according to Mrs Coutts, but on Valentine's Day you can be a little more creative than a typical weekday meal.

"With a little effort you can dress it up,” she said.

"Butterfly it open, stuff it with something and wrap it in bacon.”

Give it about 20 minutes in the oven and you've got a delicious meal on the table.

5. Prepare a delicious lunch

Who said romance is just for the evening, a flirty meal can also be prepared in the middle of the day.

Mrs Coutts said lemongrass was a nice flavour at the moment and could be used in a nice Thai curry.

"If you were to do a picnic I'd make huge cold roast, foot-long sandwiches,” she said.

"Or pack little lunches with fruit and chocolate-dipped strawberries.”