We always seem to focus on St Valentine’s Day in February which is a delightful celebration of love in every way, but this year we thought we’d look at another February festival just for fun.

There are lots of foodie type festivals this month all over the world, many in the USA associated with chocolate and wine; there’s a Maple Syrup Fair in Indiana, seafood festivals, and even a mustard festival. However, we liked the sound most of a French occasion and, after all, the French are all about food!

The Lemon Festival takes place in Menton, France – and there’s a New Zealand connection with Menton through the Katherine Mansfield Memorial Fellowship, which allows a Kiwi writer to work at the Villa Isola Bella there, where Katherine Mansfield lived and wrote.

It’s a bumper occasion with 200,000 visitors and they use 130 tonnes of citrus fruit, not least in a parade of golden fruit, with huge figures made from the citrus. The Palais Caronelès, former home of the Grimaldi family, has an exhibition of its rare and endangered species of citrus, while artisan jam makers show their wares.

Menton’s lemons are said to be prized for their unique taste and smell and are claimed to be brighter yellow, shapelier, richer in essential oils, acid and flavour.

While we may not have Menton lemons, we’ve got our own New Zealand and some imported citrus – and we have lots of lovely recipes using lemons, some of which would be ideal for a special treat on St. Valentine’s Day.

Lemons and fish are a perfect combination. A simple, special dish, perfect served straight from the pan is Fried Calamari With Lemon Aioli. For a lovely summer lunch try Salmon with Melon And Lemon Dressing. Basil and Lemon Prawns make a lovely starter on their own or as part of a mezze platter. Creamy Smoked Fish On Pasta With Lemon And Dill is a sure-fire summer dinner meal, served with a green salad and crusty bread.

For a great summer drink, make Ginger Beer. Traditional favourites with lemons are Lemon Curd and Lemon Butter and it’s not difficult to prepare your own Preserved Lemons which are specially useful for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking.

Mix fruit flavours with Grilled Mango And Lemon Curd Tarts, Lemon And Spice Apple Tart or Lemon Stone Fruit Tart.

Chicken and lemon is another delicious combination and lemon partners pork with pleasure – look for Roast Lemon And Rosemary Chicken and Spicy Lemon Asian Pork On Ginger Risotto.

If desserts and cakes are your thing, there’s a great range of delicious recipes, including Chilled Lemon Mousse, Citrus and Almond Cake and Lemon Crême Brulée.