Valentine’s Day is just weeks away and love is in the air. If you’re stuck for Valentines dinner ideas then you’ve come to the right place! Rumour has it Cupid has already been spotted fluttering around the Forman & Field kitchens, ready to give you the perfect Valentine’s night-in.
Whilst love should be celebrated every day (not just on 14th February!), Valentine’s Day is a wonderful excuse to show your other half just how much you love them. Unfortunately, restaurants will often hike up their prices on Valentine’s Day, just because they can, and it can feel somewhat impossible to find a table at your favourite place.
That’s why we think the best place to celebrate Valentine’s Day is at home. All you need is a delicious Valentine’s menu, some romantic music and your one true love. Oh, and some red roses wouldn’t hurt either! For our 5 top Valentines dinner ideas, keep reading…
1) Set The Mood
If you’re trying to recreate the feeling of a romantic restaurant at home, you need to start with the right décor. A white tablecloth may not sound like much, but it’s a great way to elevate your boring kitchen table to something a little more special. Candles are another great way to set a romantic mood; try having one or two on the table, with some others dotted around the room. Just make sure you only put them on safe surfaces!
Music is an essential part of creating the right ambiance. It is the “food of love”, after all! If you have your own favourite tunes, then by all means play them. But if you’re unsure, you can find great playlists on Spotify, Apple Music or even YouTube, just like this one.
2) Find Your Inner Sommelier
One of the best things about dining at home is that you don’t have to pay four to six times the retail price for a bottle of wine. Not only can you save a lot of money, but you can also be sure you’re getting a much better bottle for the price. The real question is, which wine will you choose?
Bubbles are the ultimate celebratory drink, and the perfect way to toast to your love. If you really want to push the boat out, why not go for a bottle of pink bubbly? Balfour Winery’s Rose Brut is a multi-award winning English pink fizz that’s just perfect for Valentine’s Day.
For the rest of the meal, you may wish to move on to a still wine; but which wine you choose will depend on your menu. If you’ve chosen to serve seafood as your main course, a dry white wine is the ideal accompaniment. However, if the central component to your main dish is beef, chicken or something spicy, you should opt for a red wine to match those deeper flavours.
3) Pick A Showstopping Main
We’ll put it bluntly. Your main course matters! However, we don’t recommend choosing a dish that takes hours to prepare; that time should be spent with your loved one! Instead, focus on quality ingredients that will speak for themselves.
Dry-aging Aberdeen Angus beef enhances the meaty flavour and succulent texture, which makes our Fillet Steaks a phenomenal main course. Serve with Red Wine Jus and Dauphinois Potatoes, and you’ve got yourself a winning meal.
Or, if seafood is more your style, there are few things more impressive than lobster. Lobster Thermidor is a faff to prepare at home, but not when our chefs do it for you; boiling fresh lobsters, picking out the meat, mixing it into a cheesy mustardy sauce and carefully assembling, ready for you to reheat at home. It doesn’t get much simpler – or more exquisite – than that!
4) Delight With Dessert
It just wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without chocolate. As well as being a delicious way to end your meal, chocolate is widely considered to be a natural aphrodisiac – so perfect for the day of love! A box of chocolates makes for a wonderful token of affection and a tastier option to flowers. Or, if you’re willing to put in a little more effort, try making your own chocolate dipped strawberries. Simply dip fresh strawberries into melted chocolate of your choice – milk, dark or white – then chill in the fridge to set until ready to serve. Or, for an easy alternative, try Forman & Field’s White Chocolate Silk Sauce, which is infused with Malibu for a gentle boozy kick.
There’s something so romantic about sharing desserts with your loved one, so why not indulge in something a little bit extravagant and serve with two spoons? You can’t beat a luxurious chocolate brownie, warmed up slightly and served with vanilla ice cream. Or, for a real treat, try one of Forman & Field’s potted puds. They’re designed for one, so we’d suggest trying two different versions and sharing. Valrhona Chocolate and Vanilla Cheesecake? Yes please.
5) Order a Meal Kit
Sometimes, the most difficult part of planning a meal is just deciding what to eat! With such a wide selection, it can be hard to narrow it down. Set menus are a great option, as you can be sure that each course will complement the other. Forman & Field’s Valentine’s Dinner for 2 features a sublime smoked salmon, crab and lobster starter, followed by a sexy Surf ‘n’ Turf main of Aberdeen Angus steak with lobster butter and a herb encrusted giant prawn. To finish, there’s a decadent chocolate brownie with white chocolate sauce, dainty handmade macaroons, and a bottle of the country’s finest pink fizz to wash it all down.
And the best bit? You can order the whole thing in just one click, here!
Forman & Field’s Valentines Dinner for 2 is available from 9-16th February 2022.
