Does anyone out there have any special ideas for Valentines dinner? It is our anniversary and I usually try to creat soemthing special and unique for my wonderful husband. It will be our 9th this year and I am kind running out of ideas. He likes anything besides asian inspired dishes. Grazie!
Well at first thought, obviously I don't know what you have done in the past but I would say...something light...multiple small dishes... eaten overtime - instead of a big dinner. I find big dinners really don't inspire me to be "romantic". It's kind of like you want to be tantalized in a way by small portions of extremely yummy but light food. One of the best meals I ever had was at a Swedish Restaurant Skanway (I think it is called) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was their holiday smorgasboard but it didn't encourage you to gorge - it was just light fresh tasty food - you had to like fish though...and I do. Or perhaps foods that remind you of the highlights of your time together except in mini-versions? Or maybe set up a picnic in the bedroom?! Maybe not a meal that takes an enormous amount of work or maybe something you both do together and it is easy and fun - so that part of the appeal is the time you spend together doing it. I would probably do a mixture of small amounts of really unctious food...interspersed with light food - I love ceviche in any form - it always makes me feel good! Anyways, just some thoughts...questions to get the ball rolling. What a good question - by the way - I am just across from Houlton Maine - in N.B. Canada -- my view is of Mt. Katahdin- do you summer in Maine...Debrah
How about t-mac's "Soul Food" posting? It looks delicious and not too heavy. Add little something chocolate for dessert or how about creme brulee in heart-shaped ramekins?
-Krista
Posts: 1688 | Location: Santa Barbara, California | Registered: 21 May 2004
Originally posted by Debrah: Well at first thought, obviously I don't know what you have done in the past but I would say...something light...multiple small dishes... eaten overtime - instead of a big dinner. I find big dinners really don't inspire me to be "romantic". It's kind of like you want to be tantalized in a way by small portions of extremely yummy but light food. One of the best meals I ever had was at a Swedish Restaurant Skanway (I think it is called) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was their holiday smorgasboard but it didn't encourage you to gorge - it was just light fresh tasty food - you had to like fish though...and I do. Or perhaps foods that remind you of the highlights of your time together except in mini-versions? Or maybe set up a picnic in the bedroom?! Maybe not a meal that takes an enormous amount of work or maybe something you both do together and it is easy and fun - so that part of the appeal is the time you spend together doing it. I would probably do a mixture of small amounts of really unctious food...interspersed with light food - I love ceviche in any form - it always makes me feel good! Anyways, just some thoughts...questions to get the ball rolling. What a good question - by the way - I am just across from Houlton Maine - in N.B. Canada -- my view is of Mt. Katahdin- do you summer in Maine...Debrah
My gosh we are close.....I am very close to the mountain. hehehehehe Small world eh?
Originally posted by KHB: How about t-mac's "Soul Food" posting? It looks delicious and not too heavy. Add little something chocolate for dessert or how about creme brulee in heart-shaped ramekins?
Palma's pomegranate panna cotta made so much that I made two in heart shaped ramekins and froce them. They'll look great and all 'Valentiney' when unmolded on a plate.
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
I love Lobster so I will second that recommendation.
Jerry mention of Palma's Panna Cotta reminded me of this interesting dessert - Coffee and Donuts. The 'coffee' is similar to Palma's panna cotta except this time it is an espresso gel on top of vanilla panna cotta. The chocolate filled 'donuts' can mostly be prepared ahead of time. The negative part is having to fry them before serving. But it does look really yummy.
Posts: 7480 | Location: Edmonds, WA | Registered: 25 October 2001
Oh my goodness, Marta! I love the espresso gelee on top of the panna cotta idea. I'll skip those chocolate filled donuts, though. Too much time! (unless they oozed caramel...)
I really need to stay off the food board for a few weeks!
But we know I CAN'T! If I can't eat, I can at least read!
I love Indian food. Is that too asian inspired? The spices and scents are exotic and tantalizing...or just wine and chocolate. Really, who needs all that food?
Originally posted by LoveItaly: How about lobster and chocolate fondue with fresh fruit. Remember that lobster scene from Flash Dance!!! Sounds pretty romantic to me.
I totally agree with Debrah.. a meal that lasts... much more romantic... My boyfriend and I both love to cook so we usually cook together. One of the most romantic meals was one done last month. Put on some Chris Botti. Opened a bottle of red wine. A start of bruschetta with a teaser plate of cheeses and olives. While nibbling we made pizzas. He made the dough earlier that day, I made the sauce and chopped up some toppings. More wine. A very nice salad at the table. Then put the pizzas in the oven (attempt to make a heart shaped one!) Would you like another glass of wine? After the pizzas, a couch trip for some homemade ice cream made the day before, with chocolate in filo pastry (made the day before and baked just before, yum warm chocolate) drizzled with raspberry sauce (also made the day before) in front of the fireplace. Another glass of wine in front of the fire. Nice.
O.K. - you got me at chocolate in filo pastry?!? Do tell - how do you do that exactly becaue I am gearing up for that one! I'm hoping it is simple but with pastry of some sort and melted chocolate, you couldn't go wrong!
3 ounces fresh raspberries (about 1 1/2 cups) 2 tablespoons superfine sugar 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted 3 sheets phyllo dough Scant 1/2 cup chocolate chips or 2 ounces coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate Confectioners' sugar, for dusting Vanilla ice cream, as an accompaniment
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Reserve 12 raspberries. Combine the remaining raspberries with the sugar and puree in a blender. Strain through a strainer and set aside. Brush some of the butter on a work surface. Arrange 1 of the phyllo sheets on top and brush with some of the remaining butter. Repeat the procedure with the remaining 2 sheets and butter and cut the phyllo into 12 (4-by-3/12-inch) squares.
Divide the chocolate evenly among the 12 squares, mounding it in the center of each and top with one of the reserved raspberries. Bring up the edges of the phyllo to enclose the filling and pinch at the top to form a little package or purse. Arrange the purses on an ungreased baking sheet and bake on the middle rack of the oven until golden, about 12 to 15 minutes.
To serve: spoon 2 tablespoons of the sauce in the middle of 4 dessert plates and swirl the sauce to spread it in a circle. Sprinkle the purses with confectioners' sugar. Arrange 3 purses and 1 small scoop of ice cream on each plate.
I don't usually pay to much attention to the above size for the phyllo...lol...I make mine bigger... more chocolate!
To me absolutely the most romantic meal is fondue. Feed each other off the forks, takes forever, lots of wine. If I am doing fondue I usually do 3 kinds. One of hot oil with spices for the meat/seafood a second of cheese for the vegies/bread cubes and finally chocolate with either a liqueur or drinking a big barolo with it.
Well tomorrow is St. Valentines Day! Happy Valentines Day to all Slow Travelers. It is also my wedding anniversary, but my husband is in Kentucky so we won't be able to be together afterall.....but I will see him next month...on his 50th B-Day! So I guess I'll be having my anniversary dinner alone....
I'm so sorry that your husband will not be at home... Maybe you can get comfy with a glass of wine and a fire and write a list of all the reasons why you love him....(or tell HIM to write a list and send it to YOU!)
Thank you so much Debra.....I am a Debora as well! We have lived this way for nine years! I am sort of used to it...but it always difficult when we can't be together...thanks for understanding!
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Maybe you can get comfy with a glass of wine and a fire and write a list of all the reasons why you love him....(or tell HIM to write a list and send it to YOU!)
