5 Tips for Hosting a Romantic Valentine’s Dinner
February 9, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Seattle
• 0 Comments
5 Tips for Hosting a Romantic Valentine’s Dinner
The secret to success for romance on Valentine’s Day is sensuousness. And by sensuousness, we mean engaging the senses. It’s about sight, smell, taste, and touch. Romance is a thrill, a tingle, a sense of feeling alive; not just titillation. If you want romance, you need to create an experience that your significant other won’t want to end or won’t be able to forget once it does.
Few things engage the senses better than food. So if you want to make a good impression this Valentine’s Day, we suggest hosting a romantic dinner for two. Whether you are male or female, young or old, married for 25 years or on your first date, we’ve put together this list of tips to help you:
5 Tips for a Romantic Valentine’s Dinner
-
Make a Plan
Don’t worry about planning out the minutia, but you must start with a plan. Planning a menu lets you start shopping early so that you can have all of your ingredients ready and waiting. Your menu should include date-safe foods. That means nothing too heavy, too messy, or too spicy. Chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes are a sure bet. They also tend to be easier to make and clean up.
-
Create the Proper Mood
Put away the paper plates and those collectible McDonald’s glasses. You’ll want to set the right mood for your food. That means a table setting and room ambience that is classy and elegant. Any meal tastes better on good china and fine flatware. Even simple things like linen napkins and a few well-placed candles can go along way.
-
Cook Ahead of Time
Whether it’s the day before or the morning of, make as many components of the meal ahead of time as you can. This is a date after all. And while your homemade meal is high on the romance meter, spending the entire evening in the kitchen isn’t. Salads, homemade croutons, sauces, and desserts are great for preparing ahead of time.
-
Get Your Date Involved
If your menu requires a little extra time in the kitchen, or even if it doesn’t, getting your date involved in the preparation definitely engages the senses. Don’t rely on your date for the heavy lifting in the kitchen, but small jobs like cutting vegetables, adding ingredients, or stirring sauces are great chores. A good rule is to avoid giving any tasks that would require a degree from a cooking school in Seattle. Everything else is not only fun but a great way to test your chemistry. If you can get along in the kitchen, you can get along anywhere.
-
Don’t Forget Dessert
Even if your Valentine’s Day is dieting, dessert should always be on the menu. Don’t worry about the fact you’ve never taken baking classes. Just avoid large, messy cakes and pies and go for individual-sized desserts like tarts, crostini, custards, and crème brulee. Definitely consider sharing a dessert. It is more fun and much more intimate. Why talk across the table when you can sit next to each other and whisper.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Seattle. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Seattle offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in the Seattle, Washington area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Seattle for more information.
Find disclosures on graduation rates, student financial obligations and more at www.chefs.edu/disclosures. Le Cordon Bleu® and the Le Cordon Bleu logo are registered trademarks of Career Education Corporation. Le Cordon Bleu cannot guarantee employment or salary. Credits earned are unlikely to transfer.