Leverage your chef skills for the perfect romantic dinner

With Valentine?s Day coming up, many of us are already busy planning for a magical night with our significant other. Often our plans include dinner at a nice restaurant, followed by a movie, a live performance, or maybe a romantic stroll through the park.

While all of these activities are great ways to spend the holiday, they can lack a certain intimacy. This year, maybe it’s time to try something a little different. Here are a few easy tips for planning an unforgettable and intimate evening.

Consider the Ambiance

Let?s start with a few decorating tips. A good Valentine?s Day dinner should reflect the romantic nature of the holiday without being too gaudy.

This year, avoid all of the bright pink streamers and cartoon heart symbols and go for something a little more subdued. Try a simple tablecloth, some of your best dishware and a couple of nice candles. Lighting is important, so take the time to test out a few different variations using natural and artificial sources of light around the house. If you have a dimmer switch, now would be a good time to make use of it.

The Food

Your first consideration here should be the dietary needs of your date. Obviously, if you are married to someone you are probably well aware of their dietary needs and restrictions, but if your relationship is still in its early stages it’s definitely worth inquiring to avoid any discomfort or illness.

Once you have that settled then all that?s left is finding a good recipe. Search Pinterest for entree and sides that are both visually beautiful and tastefully appealing. Don’t choose anything too difficult unless you have master Chef skills. This evening is about romance, not stress!

You don?t want to serve anything too heavy because that can cause drowsiness and lethargy, so perhaps a nice light dish of chicken or seafood would be the best choice. Certain shellfish, such as oysters, have long been considered aphrodisiacs. If you aren?t so inclined toward cooking yourself, then it is pretty easy to hire a chef. They will bring the ingredients and cookware right to your house and prepare it for you and your date.

After the Meal

It is a good idea to have a light activity planned for after the meal, this will give your food time to digest and provide you with a chance to enjoy a little more intimate time with your loved one.

Maybe offer an after-dinner drink and put on a favorite film, or a much anticipated new release. Another idea might be to simply retire to the patio or porch for further conversation and maybe a little dessert. Really, any sort of fun low-impact activity will do.

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to spend some precious time with the person who means everything to you.

Throughout the year we spend so much of our time traveling, working, and meeting our commitments that it can be difficult to find the time to spend that person who makes all of that hassle worthwhile. That’s why it?s so important to take advantage of the time we make for each other!