A Five-Star Valentine's

Okay. So we're all on a tight budget, what with the $500 we just had to drop on the new edition of our biology textbook. So rather than switch to a different degree (and I'm lucky I'm in writing - no texbooks for meeeee!), we do the inevitable: starve ourselves. Or, at least, starve ourselves of food that is any calibre above KD.

But what about that night that's coming up? That's right, you're correct again: Valentine's Day. Chocolate. Flowers. Teddy Bears and flavoured condoms, blah blah blah. All stuff we can - and do - live without. However, food is something we can't live without. So this time, forget the Cadbury Creme eggs and take her (or him) out for dinner. And I'm not just talking about McDicks, folks. I'm talking something a little upscale.

While I pride myself on two-dollar boxes of Hamburger Helper, I found myself splurging a little for something out of the ordinary: a three course meal at a five-star restaurant. Am I crazy? No. Not when you can get it for 30 bucks.

Lure restaurant at the Delta hotel is offering something a little special for February: a special amendment to their menu that offers choices for a starter, main and dessert for $30. This isn't your regular Boston Pizza, either. This is a take-your-jacket, pull-out-your-chair, everything-but-wipe-your-face kind of place. The entire atmosphere itself makes you forget, just for two hours, that you're a struggling, homework-drowned student. They light your candles. There are different forks and spoons for things. It's relaxing, quiet, and complete with a guy playing a grand piano. Really, I could hear my own voice perfectly without having to shout over some annoying techno-mix. Perfect for that special occasion; great to get to know each other better. The view of the harbour was also lovely - a bit touristy, but you'll find yourself oggling all over again.

The menu itself was delicious. Start with either a sweet yet slightly spicy chipotle sweet potato soup or ahi tuna tartare (first picture). For your main, melt-in-your-mouth beef tenderloin on a bed leeks and caramelized onions, drizzled with a paprika hollindaise and succulent crab (second picture) It's okay to drool, because I loved it. I didn't even know what half the things were, but my mouth danced with happiness. You can also go with fresh arctic char in a tomato basil sauce, which both my boyfriend and mum highly reccommended. There was also a halibut "chowder" (the quotations, I assume, were meant to say it was a bit thicker than a regular, watered down version). For desert, three of us got a decadent brownie with strawberry salsa on an espresso and marshmallow drizzle. The other, a goat cheesecake garnished with an edible flower. Pretty. Presentation is key.

If you're worried about paying for your sweetie, talk about paying your own ways - that way you guys that enjoy each other's company without worrying about a $60 bill. And drink water. The cocktail menu is a bit pricey, at $8 a pop.

Sound a bit upscale? It was. But attached or alone, you deserve to treat yourself. And when you find out that the mains alone are over $30 a piece on the regular menu, you really know you're getting a good deal. So take advantage of living in Victoria and being able to dine sans tourists and check out Lure. It's a great way to experience five-star dining for a reasonable price.

Remember, food shouldn't a punishment. It's okay to enjoy it a little.

Class Begins! The Starving Student's Mission Statement

Yes, you can eat healthy on a modest budget. Yes, in Victoria. And yes, I did just walk out of Blenkinsop/McKenzie's grocer The Root Cellar with three bags of groceries amounting to $15 - the price of the 2.5 pounds of red peppers had I bought them at Thriftys.

So wait, you say. There's hope?

Yep!

Welcome to Starving Students Victoria, a place where you can come to get tips and tricks for groceries, dining out and entertainment on a low budget in B.C.'s Capitol City. Whether you're from across the country or right here at home, I want to provide you with things you didn't know and things you may have forgotten. I'm going to give you up-to-date information on the cheapest places to stuff your face and exercise your legs, to entertain your minds and kill your livers - er, drink in moderation. Grocery specials, pub menus, hiking trails - I hope to give hope you can have fun even if you've only lint in your wallets.

I also want to extend this further than a consumer blog. Being someone who has $40,000 in student loans (and I'm not done yet), I know how difficult it can be to conduct your academic life alongside a job and constant debt worry. I want to explore how the government is helping students, what you can do to help, and what kind of events are going on where you can get more information. School should not be a debt sentence. It should be available for anyone and everyone who has the will to buckle down and study hard.

So there we go! Enjoy the tips for living and my thoughtful commentary on this crazy thing called a 'Starving Student.' Cheers!