Treating yourself to a fancy dinner on Valentine's Day doesn't mean you have to dip into your 401(k). Just choose an elegant menu, get the kids out of the house, and get to cooking!
Restaurants are so overpriced on Valentine's Day, so skip 'em. Instead, run by your local gourmet grocery store, stock up on some tasty ingredients, and get ready to make some mischief!
First things first, set a festive table. Red is the color of the day, so I chose to play with the Cinnabar and Portico pieces. I also added a fun little touch by tying a red velvet ribbon around the Adelaide Flatware. Is it practical? Nah. Is it cute? Yep. And if there's one holiday when you can get away with a little extra cute, it's Valentine's Day!
Start: Sparkling Wine & Cheese
I’d be happy to arm wrestle anyone who can name something more festive than Champagne or Prosecco. Just make sure you find a bottle with a cork — that “pop!” is central to the fun! Pair it with your favorite cheese and cracker combo — I’d go with a nice aged Parmesan or similarly salty, tangy cheese, but if Brie’s your thing, dig in! You can’t go wrong — guys LOVE cheese.
Tablescape Tip: Skip the flutes and sip your bubbly from our Salud Glasses. Keep your bottle chilled in the Coronado Planter, just be sure to seal the drainage hole with tape.
Second Course: Surf & Salad
Daily dinners are all about logistics. Valentine’s Dinner should be different, so slow it down a notch. Treat yourself to different courses so you can take time to savor this meal.
Keep your salad really simple — I would recommend a mix of arugula and spinach, perhaps some thinly sliced shallots. Dress it will a little olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Then, top with seared scallops (you could also use shrimp) from this recipe. Or, just have it plain, depending on your appetite.
Tablescape Tip: Serve your salad on the Portico Accent Plates, then remove them and serve your main course on the Cinnabar Appetizer Plates.
The Main Course: Decadence
A nice grilled steak is perfect for Valentine's day, so pass that duty along to your significant other. Before you accuse me of being sexist, think about it. Can you cook steak? Of course you can. But giving your guy something to be good at means you get to prop your feet up and enjoy that prosecco you opened earlier!
Just in case you get stuck with steak duty, here’s a great recipe from the Barefoot Contessa that doesn’t banish you to the role of Grill Guardian. And you’ll need a side, of course, so try these easy Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. Make them extra special with a sprinkle of white truffle salt, available at gourmet food stores.
Be sure to serve a special red wine. I found this Joel Gott zinfandel at Whole Foods on sale for around $14...it's my new favorite!
Just Desserts
By this time, you’re probably outrageously full, but it wouldn’t be a proper Valentine’s Day without a decadent chocolate dessert. Look no further than Nigella Lawson’s Chocohotopots. Rich, easy, delicious — an unparalleled chocolate fix!
Tablescape Tip: You can bake dessert right in the Cinnabar Tidbits — they’re oven-safe up to 350 degrees! Simply modify the recipe by increasing your cooking time by 8-10 minutes.
I hope you have fun playing in the kitchen this Valentine's Day. However, if you do encounter some mischief, don't fret. Just throw the dishes in the sink, call and order a pizza, and open up another bottle of wine! Happy Valentine's Day!
Restaurants are so overpriced on Valentine's Day, so skip 'em. Instead, run by your local gourmet grocery store, stock up on some tasty ingredients, and get ready to make some mischief!
First things first, set a festive table. Red is the color of the day, so I chose to play with the Cinnabar and Portico pieces. I also added a fun little touch by tying a red velvet ribbon around the Adelaide Flatware. Is it practical? Nah. Is it cute? Yep. And if there's one holiday when you can get away with a little extra cute, it's Valentine's Day!
Start: Sparkling Wine & Cheese
I’d be happy to arm wrestle anyone who can name something more festive than Champagne or Prosecco. Just make sure you find a bottle with a cork — that “pop!” is central to the fun! Pair it with your favorite cheese and cracker combo — I’d go with a nice aged Parmesan or similarly salty, tangy cheese, but if Brie’s your thing, dig in! You can’t go wrong — guys LOVE cheese.
Tablescape Tip: Skip the flutes and sip your bubbly from our Salud Glasses. Keep your bottle chilled in the Coronado Planter, just be sure to seal the drainage hole with tape.
Second Course: Surf & Salad
Daily dinners are all about logistics. Valentine’s Dinner should be different, so slow it down a notch. Treat yourself to different courses so you can take time to savor this meal.
Keep your salad really simple — I would recommend a mix of arugula and spinach, perhaps some thinly sliced shallots. Dress it will a little olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Then, top with seared scallops (you could also use shrimp) from this recipe. Or, just have it plain, depending on your appetite.
Tablescape Tip: Serve your salad on the Portico Accent Plates, then remove them and serve your main course on the Cinnabar Appetizer Plates.
The Main Course: Decadence
A nice grilled steak is perfect for Valentine's day, so pass that duty along to your significant other. Before you accuse me of being sexist, think about it. Can you cook steak? Of course you can. But giving your guy something to be good at means you get to prop your feet up and enjoy that prosecco you opened earlier!
Just in case you get stuck with steak duty, here’s a great recipe from the Barefoot Contessa that doesn’t banish you to the role of Grill Guardian. And you’ll need a side, of course, so try these easy Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. Make them extra special with a sprinkle of white truffle salt, available at gourmet food stores.
Be sure to serve a special red wine. I found this Joel Gott zinfandel at Whole Foods on sale for around $14...it's my new favorite!
Just Desserts
By this time, you’re probably outrageously full, but it wouldn’t be a proper Valentine’s Day without a decadent chocolate dessert. Look no further than Nigella Lawson’s Chocohotopots. Rich, easy, delicious — an unparalleled chocolate fix!
Tablescape Tip: You can bake dessert right in the Cinnabar Tidbits — they’re oven-safe up to 350 degrees! Simply modify the recipe by increasing your cooking time by 8-10 minutes.
I hope you have fun playing in the kitchen this Valentine's Day. However, if you do encounter some mischief, don't fret. Just throw the dishes in the sink, call and order a pizza, and open up another bottle of wine! Happy Valentine's Day!