Romantic Dinner Ideas

Editor's note: Do you know someone for whom it is extremely hard to buy gifts? Do you have a question about gift giving etiquette and protocol?  The Gift Gal can help!  Drop her a short note with your etiquette question or describing your gift giving dilemma.  The Gift Gal will tap into the Gift Suggestion Databank for a solution to your gifting problem.  Send your question to: Giftgal01@aol.com   For more information about the Gift Gal advice service, click here. 

Dear Gift Gal:

My husband and I are newlyweds.  I would like to plan a special romantic dinner for him, but can't spend all afternoon cooking because I work.  Do you have any menu suggestions?  How about some ideas for creating a romantic atmosphere in our plain white dining room?

The Gift Gal responds:

A romantic dinner is the perfect way to celebrate your first Valentine's Day together! 

Food ideas

As you mentioned in your note, you don't  have time to prepare a five-course meal.  Fortunately, there are a lot of simple dishes that you can prepare that still make a romantic statement.  Consider a cheese fondue dinner.  Simply melt Swiss Emmental and Gruyere cheeses in a pot, then dip crusty French bread, crackers or cut up fresh vegetables for   a delicious and light meal. This meal is especially simple if you use the Tiger Appenzeller Fondue Cheese available through iGourmet since there's no need to mix in the wine and other ingredients often found in fondue.

You can also use your fondue pot to create the dessert.  Click here for the Chocolate Cinnamon fondue recipe.

You don't need a special fondue pot; it can be made on the stove in any saucepan. However, your dinner will be more intimate and romantic if you use a fondue pot, since you can set it up in any room in your house.  (How about in front of the fireplace?) iGourmet carries some high quality fondue pots that will carry you through many romantic dinners!

 Wherever you set up your fondue pot, use extreme care to avoid starting a fire.  (You don't want the dinner to be THAT memorable, do you?)  

Another menu idea:  purchase one of the complete gourmet dinners from Hickory Farms. They offer two especially romantic meals often found at 5-star restaurants: Filet Mignon and a Surf and Turf.  

The filet mignon dinner for two includes two 6 oz. mouthwatering Filet Mignons, 8 oz. Steak house Spinach, and two Gourmet Twice-Baked Potatoes. Cost: $39.95.  (Item # 064330).  

The Mini Surf and Turf for two includes two 1" thick Filet Mignon, two succulent 8 oz. lobster tails, and 3 oz. of garlic seasoned butter. Cost: $59.95  (Item # 063708).  

Finish off your meal with some gourmet chocolate covered strawberries from Shari's Berries(tm) Gourmet Gifts.

Creating a romantic atmosphere

Now onto the decor.  You need not spend a lot to create an intimate setting.  Start with a simple red table cloth, which can be found at any major discount store. Dress is up with a themed set of dinnerware which you can re-use every year.  Lillian Vernon's   heart-shaped dinnerware is affordable yet makes a dramatic statement.  (Cost: $29.98, item # 012681).

And you will need something special for those champagne toasts.  Lillian Vernon also carries very elegant Valentine champagne flutes (Cost: $19.98 for a set of two, item #014061).

The perfect centerpiece check out the Tulips for Lovers Arrangement by 1-800-flowers (Price:  $54.99, item #2405).  Flank it on either side with 8" crystal candlesticks (available from Illuminations for $12.95, item #20100296). Another idea:  use various sizes of the candlesticks alone, as pictured. 

Finally, you'll want to enhance your setting with romantic music.  Some CD and cassette recommendations:   Chopin and Champagne: Set Your Mood for Romance , Vivaldi for Valentines: Romantic Interludes for the One You Love,   and Rachmaninov for Romance: Passionate Music for Love and Desire       Even people who aren't classical music fans will enjoy the well-orchestrated pieces on these cassettes and CDs. 

Here's a toast to a memorable evening!