DINING: Last-minute valentines

At any rate, here are some last-minute ideas for last-minute lovers:

Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man at The Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is offering Love Me, Love Me Not Bonbons ($11.50), Love Bonbons ($12.90) and I Love You Favorites ($6.50), as well as its bricks, candles, pralines, tins and more.

Ethel M’s, which has multiple locations across the valley, offers its seasonal collection in heart-shaped boxes in four sizes, from 16 pieces ($25) to 57 pieces ($60), plus foiled-covered chocolate hearts ($15).

See’s Candies, which also has multiple locations, has its own chiffon-wrapped red heart boxes; 1 pound is $20.85. Collections as small as 4 ounces ($6.15) also are available, as well as chocolate hearts, raspberry-filled hearts and more.

Bouchon Bakery at The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, offers cookies with Valentine’s Day messages ($4 each), Linzer cookies ($3.25), cupcakes ($3.50), red-wine-poached cranberry danish ($4), cherry heart-shaped lollipops ($1.50) and more.

If your valentine is more of a doughnut lover, Krispy Kreme (multiple locations) comes to the rescue with heart-shaped doughnuts with white icing and seasonal sprinkles or chocolate icing and red drizzle, or Original Glazed doughnuts with chocolate icing and sprinkles, from now through Monday. (Buy a dozen and you get 12 Valentine’s Day cards with coupons for one free doughnut, hot chocolate or coffee.) And select stores will have heart-shaped Original Glazed doughnuts on the big day.

If you and your valentine are on an extremely tight budget, you’ll no doubt welcome the news that local outlets of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf are offering two-for-one beverages on Monday. For a coupon, go to CoffeeBean.com.

And here’s some food for thought: According to the National Restaurant Association, 70 million Americans will celebrate Valentine’s Day at a restaurant this year.