Romantic Dinner Suggestions

[dearamy]

What are some of your favorite menus for a romantic dinner?

[Gail]

Here you go:


http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/20010301-1-002241.html

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/20010228-1-000467.html

Enjoy. Hopefully with someone special! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[browneye]

dearamy:
I love to make a romantic dinner for my hubby and I occasionally. Usually, it is a different menu each time, but creating the romantic mood is so fun! I put on very romantic music (that HE thinks is romantic, especially) usually jazz saxophone Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane, Stan Getz etc. Then, of course, the candles, the plates with the dark maroon and gold rims, the big, round red wine glasses, (and of course the red wine,)
The main course doesn't always matter, but my hits in the past have been Duck Breast Au Poivre, Beef Tenderloin with Wine sauce, Miso marinated Chilean Sea Bass with Wasabi Creme and Lime-Soy sauces, Fresh Seared Salmon with Lemon-Ginger Butter. The side dishes vary as well. I try to copy a really beautiful presentation when I do this to impress him, too.
It is always really fun.
Happy Romance!

[kwormann]

For us, part of the romance is the simplicity of the meal. Saturday we are having grilled shrimp fajitas for a romance nite!

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

[aka]

This is getting weird...thos is the second posting I saw asking a question I was thinking of asking (or similar anyway)!

My 5th anniversary is in two weeks exactly and I want to make something special in rather than go out.

This year I'm going to do something a little different and have a picnic inside (that way we'll get privacy...no rain...and not ants). Set the mood with a fire and tons of candles and music in the background then I'm going to do some nice light things (I don't mean "light" calorie wise, but in general who can be energetic after a big meal? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)

So, I'm thinking of brie with roasted garlic and rosemary with some nice bread, then I'm thinking of a nice dip or something with raw veggies, roasted red pepper, and some kind of meat...maybe some shrimp grilled on the BBQ? For dessert I still haven't decided....we both love chocolate so maybe a fondue....there's also recipe for induvidual lime souffles from CL a few years back I was thinking would be nice. Maybe not though, since you can't really do a souffle ahead of time....Oh well, still two weeks to decide and with this thread who knows what may inspire me!

Lilia

[Gail]

Me again. Just came back from the market and realized I'd avoided the obvious. Around here, we have a long-standing custom which is called Wine and Cheese Night. Wine and Cheese Night is always on a Friday, because it's meant as an unwind from a particularly stressful week. It also has other qualities. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif Anyway, the idea is simple; basically it's an indoor picnic with any number of variations on how and where you serve it as well as lighting/music or mode of dress. I leave that part to your imagination. I go to a local Italian delicatessen, select certain meats and cheeses-- but you can vary it also with seafood or some kind of salad, and I often throw in a spinach dip. Include some lovely fresh-baked bread (I happen to like Sicilian Twist with this, but again there are endless options) add a good bottle of wine and even a decadent dessert or strawberries and champagne. It's a great one-on-one thing, picnicking, sipping your wine, picking at finger foods (very sensual) and keeping lighting low and soothing. Highly recommended!

Insofar as "those special meals" go, for us whatever it is simply MUST include garlic. It might be seafood (such as the scampi posted in that thread, a simple linguini and clam sauce, salmon in dill sauce or even fresh steamed clams) it might be something I laughingly call Yum Chicken (chicken in a wine herb cream sauce) it might be stroganoff, duck in port wine sauce or a filet mignon in some kind of wine sauce (I have a couple of recipes I favor). Typically, my main course will be the centerpiece of the meal, with perhaps simple accompaniments such as a green salad and crusty bread, or in some cases a pilaf. Dessert is usually something decadent, whether from the bakery or homemade. Garlic and wine are constants in whatever special meal I may concoct-- but make no mistake that served in the right frame of mind in the right setting, even an exquisitely prepared home pizza (with garlic) will have the same affect as something super-complicated.

Good luck!

[Jewel]

One of the most romantic dinners I ever made for my husband and myself was to celebrate what my husband calls "OUR Birthday'. It's the anniversary of our first time we told each other "I love you". Yes, he remembers that date and says that's the day that our lives truly began...(sigh)

I made Steak Au Poivre. Two beautifully aged Filet Mignon steaks crusted in a blend of cracked peppercorns and seared in butter, then served with a buttery red wine sauce. Absolutely decadent. I made a non-CL recipe called Champagne & Feta Risotto which is a lot like the Vidalia onion risotto without the onions, and the addition of champagne in the vegetable broth. Asparagus Tips with Mornay Sauce a loaf of crusty bread with garlic butter, a bottle of good red wine, and we were set.

I also lit about 100 candles all over the house before he came home, and had the doggies stay at a friend's house so they wouldn't mob him when he walked in the door and ruin the mood...unforgettable! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Jewel (edited 04-27-2001).]

[KValley]

Jewel You are so precious- I love reading about you and your DH! Such an inspiration.

Browneye a woman after my own heart- the Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane album is one of our favorites for a romantic dinner; as is the Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto album. I must recommend Chet Baker in Paris- you'd love it.

I'm with Gail and Kim- simplicity rules and that usually ends up being wine and cheese that we've selected together, hearty bread, ice cream straight from the container. No dishes, little prep, much decadence.

Julie

[Hoosier65]

Ditto on Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane album. Very romantic. I'll have to check out Stan Getz and Chet Baker. I don't think it matters too much what you serve for dinner, just having a quiet dinner together with music, candles and wine sets the mood perfectly.

[aggie94]

For my bridal shower, I got a cookbook by Rick Rodgers called "Romantic Dinners" with a few different menus in it.

The Valentine's Day Dinner is:
Shrimp and Mango Salad with Ginger Vinaigrette
Roasted Cornish Game Hens with Ricotta Stuffing and New Potatoes
Sauteed Green Beans with Pan-Roasted Red Peppers
and
Chocolate-Orange Souffle Cakes

Then there's a candlelight dinner for the "meat and potatoes" lover:
Green Salad with Gorgonzola Toasts
Grilled Steaks with Mushroom-Red Wine Compote
Pesto Twice-Baked Potatoes
and
Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate-Cognac Sauce

Next, the "extravagant and elegant late-night supper":
Roasted Oysters with Tomato-Lime Salsa
Fresh Linguine with Caviar and Creme Fraiche
Belgian Endive, Watercress, and Walnut Salad
and
Chocolate and Raspberry Pots de Creme

Finally, breakfast in bed:
Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Herbs
and
Papaya and Berries with Champagne and Honey

I made the "meat & potatoes" menu for V-Day this year, and everything was FABULOUS. I can't vouch for the other recipes, but they all look delicious. It's just a matter of getting around to making them. Plus, some of them aren't particularly light.

If anyone wants any of these, I'd be happy to post.

[Gail]

The pesto baked potatoes sound like a pleasant change from the usual. Is that just baked potato with pesto added, or is there something else? Maybe, as long as you offered, if you wouldn't mind posting it..?

[aggie94]

No problem, Gail! These potatoes are one of my favorites:

Pesto Twice-Baked Potatoes

1 large (9 ounces) baking potato, such as russet or Idaho, well-scrubbed
2 tbsp. sour cream or plain yogurt
2 tbsp. prepared pesto
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tbsp. freshly grated imported Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon olive oil

1. Position a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the potato directly on the rack and bake until tender, about one hour.

2. Cut hot potato in half lengthwise. Using a large spoon, scoop out potato flesh into a bowl, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells. Add sour cream and pesto and coarsely mash potato flesh. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture into potato shells and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with oil.
The potatoes are best if baked and served immediately, however they can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead, covered, and stored at room temperature.

3. Bake until potatoes are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot.

Serves two.


My notes: I lighten this up by using light sour cream and leaving off the oil drizzle. You can also reduce the pesto, if you like.

[foodiedelite]

All of the above sound excellent! For Valentine's Day here's what I did:

Tablesetting: White vintage lace tablecloth,
gold candlesticks/beige candles, gold chargers with white china with gold rims and crystal stemware. Sprinkled the entire table with rose petals in pink and red. Menu for evening on small chalkboard placed on table.

Served:
Cabernet
Romaine Salad with Garlic Vinaigrette (both garlic addicts)with apples and pecans
Beef Wellingtons with Gorgonzola
Green Beans with shallots
New Potatoes
Espresso/Orange Cheesecake (oh my ...)
***definitely a splurge on the thighs

Made everything before and reheated that evening.

[Gail]

Aggie94,

Thanks for the recipe. We're pesto hounds around here, so that sounds like an interesting variation.

[Susann]

Dearamy-Just wanted to thank you for the inspiration. After reading this thread, I decided that it is high time DH and I have a picnic on our deck!

[browneye]

Kvalley and Hoosier:
Thanks for the additional music recommendations I love Chet Baker-I must get that one.
Here are some more music ideas for you- the Getz/Charlie Byrd Jazz Samba album- oh, so old, but soooooo great and romantic too.
Also, I got a jazz compilation CD from Barnes and Noble, I think the title is something like "Cool jazz for Red Hot nights" or something- I am looking for it right now to see what the exact title is. It is really great also, you guys would like it.
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[cchhbb]

I made a very romantic dinner in under one hour a few months ago. Actually, it was supposed to be for Valentine's Day, but DH got stuck at work.

The menu was a coated rack of lamb that was seared and then baked for about 25 minutes. I made desert with brownies that I cut out into little hearts and then made a rasberry sauce with ice cream and whipped cream.

We also had a marinated shrimp appetizer. It was excellent.

[dearamy]

You all are so full of wonderful suggestions! I will definitely file some of these ideas away for next time. It turned out that we were so tired after a long hike on Saturday,we ended up ordering pizza, getting a good bottle of red wine, lighting candles & having a living room picnic--very romantic indeed!