If your regular evening meal preparation consists of pouring milk into a bowl of cereal and buttering a piece of toast, you may believe that hosting a romantic dinner at home is out of reach. But thanks to today's plethora of gourmet grocery stores and mail order gourmet foods, you can have a romantic meal at home, without the mess and stress of cooking.
Easy Gourmet Dinners Begin with Appetizers
Begin by building your menu. If you dine out a lot, think about what you usually see on menus. You will want to select an appetizer, a first course, a main meal, and a dessert. Appetizers can be simple yet delicious. Consider shrimp cocktail, a selection of cheeses, some crusty bread, and some grapes and sliced apples.
When you go to the grocery store to select your food items, take advantage of the employees' expertise. Ask the person at the cheese counter what she recommends, and choose a couple different types of cheese that you and your date can sample together. Then find a fresh bread that you can pair with the cheese. Look for one without a strong taste, as you don't want it to compete with the flavor of the cheese. While at the store, you may also want to select warm hors d'oeuvres. At a gourmet grocery store like Whole Foods you should be able to find mini quiche, crab cakes, and spanakopita in the frozen food section.
Take Advantage of Mail Order Gourmet Foods
If your loved one has a favorite meal, you may want to see if you can find a mail order gourmet food company that carries it. If not, you can peruse both the internet and your local gourmet grocery store for ideas. Omaha Steaks has a great selection of meals that have both a beautiful presentation and taste delicious. You can order, for example, sole stuffed with scallops and crabmeat. It goes straight from the freezer to the oven, and there's no need to "test" it to see if it is ready.
Gourmet Grocery Stores Have Great Side Dishes
Though you can order side dishes online, you are more likely to get fresh, beautiful sides at the grocery store. You will also have the opportunity to try them to see if you like how they taste. Plan to go to the grocery store a week or two ahead of time, and aim to go during the week when the crowds are light and you can get more attention from the staff. When you find a couple dishes you like, be sure to ask if they will have them available on the day you need them. You may be able to place an order.
A Romantic Meal Needs a Fine Wine and a Decadent Dessert
Of course no romantic dinner is complete without a fine wine and a decadent dessert. No need to worry if you are a wine novice. Take your menu to a small wine store where you are likely to get good service. Talk to the guys about the types of wine you like, what you'll be eating, and what your budget is. They'll be able to direct you to the perfect bottle.
Then stop by your favorite pastry shop to select dessert. Heart shaped flourless chocolate cakes, cupcakes wearing frosty red icing caps and heart shaped cookies would all make sweet endings to your fantastic meal.
Don't forget to Create Romance
Now that you've settled on your menu, be sure to consider how you will set the tone for the evening. For a romantic evening, you will want to pull out your best dinnerware. Candles, flowers, music, a table cloth, cloth napkins, and wine glasses set the mood as well. The time you take to select these items, and how well they reflect the personality of both you and your mate will go a long way in creating romance for the evening.
Romantic, Gourmet Dinners are Easy to Prepare
Sweep the sweaters out of the oven and relocate them to the bathtub for the evening, because today there is no reason the culinarily challenged can't host a romantic meal at home. Choose your menu, make your purchases, set the mood, and enjoy a delicious, gourmet meal. It's a guarantee that romance will be yours for the evening.
More Ideas to Create Romance this Year
- Romantic Gift Ideas for Husbands – Perfectly romantic gift ideas for men
- Have a Romantic, Healthy Valentine's Day Dinner – Healthy foods and ideas for Valentine's Day
- Celebrate Valentine's Day on a Budget – Inexpensive and romantic gift Ideas for men
- Perfect Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Women – the best Valentine's Day gifts for spouses and girlfriends
- Romantic Gift Ideas for Men Who Have Everything -- romantic gift ideas for the men who leave you stumped
Christine Harmon - Christine Harmon is a published author, trainer, and mommy obsessed with health, fitness, and all that makes the body work ...
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