KATHERINE MACALISTER compiles a top ten of eateries putting on the ritz (including a special ‘love sausage’... yes, really) to impress lovers this Valentine’s Day.

A love sausage made of caviar; sushi with sweet potato hearts and crushed meringue with strawberries and honey champagne cream.

Oxford is bubbling over with culinary offerings to make your other half go weak at the knees.

And your favourite cupids at the The Guide have got it all planned out to make your Valentines Day go with a bang by suggesting the sexiest places in town.

* Valentine’s weekend at The Big Bang, in Walton Street, Jericho, will see the pairing up of male and female themed aphrodisiac sausages – true Sausages of Love.

In the Blue corner, we have a beef and caviar sausage. In the Red corner, we have a Guinea Fowl, Champagne and Strawberry sausage served over a rose mash.

Dinner is £9.49, with desserts at £3.95 and Prosecco £25 a bottle.

Call 01865 511441 or email bookings@thebigbangoxford.co.uk * A four-course Valentine candlelit dinner at The Randolph costs from £49.50 per person in the 2 AA Rosette restaurant.

Or if you can’t wait that long, The Randolph Valentine’s Day Afternoon Tea at £27.50 per person includes a glass of pink champagne, sandwiches, scones with preserves, jams and clotted cream and afternoon pastries and cakes. Call 0844 879 9132.

* Camera is the newest addition to Oxford’s restaurant/bar scene.

Valentine’s Dinner, which includes a glass of bubbly on arrival, a three-course meal and an exclusive after-dinner cocktail, as well as a resident DJ on Saturday or live music on Sunday, is £24.

Call 01865 245551 or go to cameraoxford.co.uk * Listen to the music of love at Royal Coco’s in Park End Street, Oxford with singer/songwriter Bella Rose and pianist Kevin Matthews.

Meanwhile, eat from the £19.95 three-course menu, with a box of hand-made chocolates thrown in for an additional £8.

To hear Bella Rose go to myspace.com/bellarosemusic Call 01865 793857.

* At Cockadoo Bar And Restaurant, in Nuneham Courtenay, the Valentine’s menu is £30 per person and includes a dazzling array of dishes including giant king prawns in champagne sauce. Call 01865 341030 or see cockadoo.co.uk l Shanghai 30s is a gem of a restaurant overlooking Christchurch on St Aldate’s.

Its Valentine’s day meal costs £22 per person and includes champagne spare ribs, Tsing Tao beer duckling and pineapple rolls.

Call 01865 242230.

* Trinity in Bicester has a specially designed Valentine’s Day three-course menu for £29.99 with offerings such as salad of poached guinea fowl or slow cooked Woods Farm pork belly. See trinity-uk.com or call 01869 369111.

* Café Tarifa on Cowley Road is showing classic films every second Sunday for free.

This Sunday, ie Valentine’s Day, it’s showing True Romance, at 8pm. Accompanied by special romantic cocktails and free popcorn, regulars even bring their own cushions! Call 01865 256091.

* You can eat at Malmaison in Oxford but hurry because they are already busy on Valentine’s night.

For £45 you can have candle-lit dining, three courses and coffee, with a glass of Rosé Prosecco from Friday to Sunday.

From chateaubriand (to share) with pommes dauphinoise, green beans, young glazed carrots and béarnaise to chocolate fondue (to share), this food sounds like foreplay to me. Call 01865 268400 or go to malmaison-oxford.com l Surprise your loved one with a three-course meal at your nearest Carluccio’s in Oxford or Bicester, for £25 including Sicilian wine and a glass of prosecco.

If you fancy king prawns sautéed with cherry tomatoes, garlic, white wine and herbs, served with a rocket salad, or chargrilled lamb leg steak served with peperonata completed by vanilla panna cotta, served with raspberries and a raspberry coulis book your table fast. Go to carluccios.com.