Treating yourself to a romantic evening is a perfect way to escape the daily grind and leave everyday worries behind: Valentine's Day can be the perfect time to indulge in a dinner for two with a special menu, all centered around love. From appetizers to main dishes, and desserts, there's a wealth of recipes to choose from, but be careful, as some ingredients or foods can ruin the mood, from large portions to too much alcohol to unsuccessful experiments.
10 Tips to Avoid Ruining Your Valentine's Day Dinner
The 10 tips we've collected to help you make the most of your February 14th dinner are especially relevant if you think its synonym is romance: an occasion unlike any other, with a refined mood, which aims to create an intimate and elegant atmosphere at the same time because, who knows, maybe it will happen again before next year.
1. Don't Overdo it With Garlic and Onion
Let's start immediately with two ingredients, garlic and onion, which have many beneficial properties and serve to flavor, but which on Valentine's Day could turn out to be more enemies than allies, as we know their aroma lingers in the mouth for a long time, being rather invasive. When in doubt, it's best to avoid them and proceed with recipes that don't require their use, otherwise the advice is to use them delicately: for example, depending on how they are cut, they take on different intensities, just as it's better to remove the so-called "soul" – the internal germ – from the garlic, also making it more digestible.
2. Avoid Ingredients That Stick to or Stain Your Teeth
The squid ink in the famous spaghetti colors the tongue and teeth, and the chopped parsley can slip between the incisors: there are ingredients that on paper are perfect for giving a scenic touch to the dish, but which risk unintentionally turning into an unsightly detail that could be embarrassing.
3. Be Careful With Spicy Foods and Spices
Chili peppers and spices are often used to create creative and unusual menus, often with the excuse that they're foods that are widely believed to have aphrodisiac properties. If you rarely use them in your daily meals, don't overindulge in them at your Valentine's dinner, as they can mask the flavors and cause gastric irritation, resulting in heartburn and the need to go to the bathroom.
4. Be Careful With Seafood and Raw Fish
Among the foods known to ignite passion are oysters, mussels, clams, and seafood in general, which are the stars of many February 14th menus. These ingredients must be purchased very fresh, preferably from a trusted retailer who can guarantee their safety. Even raw fish must be properly frozen and preserved, otherwise there is a risk of more or less serious poisoning.
5. Don't Choose Dishes That Are too Heavy
Recipes that slow digestion can also dampen the atmosphere of a romantic dinner. Opt for light dressings and sauces, and choose fresh foods over ultra-processed ones, which typically contain excess fat, salt, and sugar. Also, opt for homemade dishes over pre-packaged ones. Fried food? If done perfectly, it can be a success, but it needs to be prepared fresh and becomes impractical, plus the smell could permeate your rooms, hair, and clothes.
6. Discard Foods That Are Uncomfortable to Eat
Hamburgers and sandwiches on Valentine's Day? In theory, they're a casual and fun option, but certainly not elegant. It depends on the atmosphere you want to create: just be careful, they shouldn't be awkward to eat, difficult to bite into, with fillings that fall out or slices of bread that fall apart, as they could make a mess or make it difficult to take large bites. Do you like the idea of eating with your hands? Try single-serving finger foods.
7. Be Moderate With Alcohol
A glass of wine or a toast with bubbles is (almost) obligatory at a Valentine's Day dinner, but excess can ruin the festive atmosphere. Too much alcohol can make you drowsy, groggy, and even alter your mood. Our advice? Choose a good wine to accompany your meal: a well-matched, quality bottle makes all the difference compared to the quantity.
8. Don't Overdo The Portions
One of the most common mistakes is thinking that a special dinner must be abundant, both in terms of courses and portions. The suggestion is to focus on dishes that are different from the usual, with quality ingredients and served with care: an appetizer (always delicious), a first or second course (the main course) and then dessert (don't underestimate it, because it ends the dinner on a sweet note) are enough.
9. Don't Experiment With Recipes You've Never Tried Before
A dinner where you want to impress is never the ideal time to bring recipes you've never tried before. Consider the other person's preferences (including eating habits and allergies, of course), but don't venture into unfamiliar territory: tried-and-true dishes or ones you feel confident with guarantee a better result, especially if there's a bit of performance anxiety.
10. Don't Neglect Organization
If the occasion is important to you, then don't leave anything to chance. Plan ahead, perhaps by shopping early and preparing any dishes/preparations that can be made in advance, so you don't have to worry about everything at the last minute. Stress is a no-no.
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