Poll: Romantic Dinners!!!

[Kristi]

Okay! Just for fun...if you're wanting to really romance your significant other with a special dinner, what meal would you prepare and how would you present it?

My husband happens to really love my spaghetti and meatballs, so I would make those along with a simple salad and crusty French bread...and serve in a different place other than the usual table we eat at... perhaps on a "picnic" blanket on the floor with lots of candles surrounding...Miles Davis as background music...who knows! Just thought this might be fun!

[lorilei]

Alright Kristi... I'm not the most romantic soul in the Universe, but I'll bite on this one because it sounds like fun. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

My dinner would be simple and light -- maybe sushi, or a light spread of baked brie, fruit and wine. There would be candles. And conversation. And a bit of John Pizzarelli playing in the background. There would definitely be chocolate.

I was just reading an article the other day on the affects of smell on the male sex drive. Apparently, one of the scents that affects males most significantly is the smell of pumpkin pie. So maybe that would be a nice cap to the evening http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 11-09-2000).]

[kwormann]

Good to know about the pumpkin pie...its my husbands favorite!!!!

Yhis Sat is our romantic dinner night and we are having mushroom canaloni, bread, salad and LOTS of wine (lots of jazz in the background) and candles!!

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Natasha]

Cute idea for a thread!

It would probably be pasta of some sort. Say linguine with various kinds of mushrooms, roasted eggplant, red peppers, maybe a few sundried tomatoes, garlic (I know, I know, we shouldn t be using garlic http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ), white wine, a touch of cream, some evaporated milk, maybe scallops and shrimp, spices...hmmm, getting hungry! Served with fresh bread (maybe the Spinach Toast from the Oct. issue?) and an excellent bottle of wine. Hummus or another kind of dip might be a nice appetizer. And for dessert, truffles or a couple of squares of good quality chocolate would do fine, along with coffee. Or maybe a smooth, silky chocolate pudding.

For music - yes, probably jazz, but possibly classical, New Age or romantic songs. The Edge of Forever by Hilary Stagg (which Peggy wisely recommended) would be another good choice. In fact, if you want good dinner music suggestions, everyone on this board was very helpful when I asked for some a few months ago. Here is the link to that thread:
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/000375.html

And as for atmosphere - nothing too fancy. Maybe we would just take our plates to the living room and either sit among throw pillows on the floor, or on the comfiest couch in the room. I am starting to like the sounds of this!


[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 11-09-2000).]

[venus]

ahhh...you're bringing back good memories for me. The perfect romantic dinner would start with a little shrimp cocktail. We would move on to baked brie en croute with sliced empire apples and a nice baguette and oysters on the half-shell with lemon, cocktail sauce and hot sauce. A cold bottle of Freixenet Brut, my hubby's favorite champagne. Maybe some Deep Forest or William Orbit in the CD player. We would put on our flannel jammies and cuddle up by our coffee table with the cats (of course my dear little one would have a few shrimp herself). For dessert, strawberries with whipped cream and some chocolate cheese cake.

YUM

[This message has been edited by venus (edited 11-09-2000).]

[emilycat]

Let's see...gosh, I think we'd start with a bottle of Rioja -- our favorite wine, and an arugula salad with crumbled blue cheese and red wine viniagrette.
Dinner might be bourbon basted salmon and wild mushroom risotto, maybe creme brulee or port (or both http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif ) for dessert.
Moby on the stereo, and incense burning with only a few lamps turned on. Oh, I want a romantic dinner now!

[karen w]

My romantic dinner would probably be a bit different than most of the above. I'm not exactly sure about the specifics of the menu except that it must have scallops and salmon.

A meal of scallops and salmon for my husband and I would be the ultimate romantic dinner since it would conjure up memories of a wonderful weekend we had and a delicious meal we made together shortly after we were engaged.

We spent a long weekend camping in a tent and cooking meals over a campfire while I was doing my certification dives(scuba) in a nearby quarry. We went to the local grocery each night to buy stuff to cook for dinner. One night we bought some salmon for $2.99 a pound (THAT'S RIGHT 2.99 per pound!) We thought to ourselves "what is wrong with this stuff? yesterday's fish, perhaps?" Well, be it cooking and eating in the great outdoors, the company, the way we prepared it, or who knows what...it was the most delicious salmon we ever ate. We also had scallops, grilled vegetables, corn, and potatoes(I think?) with it. That is why salmon and scallops is romantic for my husband and I.

[lindrusso]

Simple - any dinner without the kids that includes "adult" food and wine!!

Just so happens that we are doing just that tonight. I'm making a hot crab dip, a spinach and caramelized onion tart, salad and the lemon cream cheese cups. A bit more than we'd usually do, and a bit rich, but it's a combination of a few recipes I've been wanting to try.

Our favorite romantic meal is anything that involves lump crab. We can't get it here, so when his mom brings us some, it's a real treat - and we don't share ANY with the kids! Hey, at $25 a pound, why waste it on those who'd be just as happy with chicken nuggets?????

[Colleen]

Has anyone tried the cookbook "intercourses"? I have a friend who has it and says that it is great (so it the food!) As far as I can tell, the food uses spices and textures that set the romantic mood. Anyway, I've never tried it, but was thinking of getting it.

[erinyyc]

I can think of quite a few ways to make a romantic evening that I would enjoy...But...does anyone else out there have a hubby(wife) who is the complete opposite of them? I've been married for 12 years to the most generous, loving, and handsome guy who would find a night of hamburgers and hockey,( and me actually watching the game with him), the most romantic! I love music, candles, gourmet food (no red meat), and NO T.V. (sorry for shouting). It seems to work for us, never a dull moment! Anyone else with an opposite?