With restaurants off the menu this Valentine’s Day, a romantic setup and tasty food is all down to you this year. And, as daunting as that sounds, you needn’t worry as our helpful chef Howard has put together these ideas to bring fine dining into your home.
This date night won’t be an evening out on the tiles like past Valentine’s, but a homecooked meal is often more intimate and thoughtful than any busy restaurant dish, and just because we’re at home this year doesn’t mean the excitement of getting dressed up should be any less. Our premium quality fish and seafood is perfect as the centrepiece of any Valentine’s meal, and we have a range of offers available to order ahead of Valentine’s weekend here.
But while our produce will make the evening incredibly appetising, just how can you set the broader scene to recreate that swanky restaurant atmosphere in your own dining room? Personal touches that mean something to you both, coupled with a beautiful meal and an equally beautiful setting are the way to go, and here’s how to do it.
Setting the scene
Setting your table with beautiful cutlery makes a great impression from the off. When serving a fish dish, a fish knife really is a must. It’s the epitome of gentility – beautifully scalloped to cut without dragging the most delicate of sea bass, with a slightly pointed end perfect for removing small bones from any fish served whole. We adore this range from Robert Welch Radford – exclusive to John Lewis and for those serving an oyster starter or lobster main, the range also includes this delectable oyster fork and stunning lobster pick.
Dim the lights
Lighting is key to creating an intimate atmosphere – and subtle flickers are much more flattering than harsh daylight or bright bulbs. Candles really are the perfect partner to a romantic meal, they create ambiance and, if you chose a scented version, can stir up wonderful memories to reminisce together. Our favourite special occasion candles are from the Parisian luxury candle experts – Diptyque. Renowned for their exceptional quality and exquisite fragrances, they really are the table accessory to show the light of your life how much they mean to you. Our favourite is the Tubereuse Rouge scented candle available online from Selfridges.
Delicate glassware is also key to setting the scene. When serving champagne, pairing the correct glass to the tipple really can make all the difference to those delicious little bubbles. If serving a vintage champagne – the saucer (or coupe) style is perfect as it’s designed to allow aged champagne to aerate and let the flavour develop, and we just adore these Lee Broom Champagne Coupe whereas tall straight flutes deliver fast and dense bubbles – ideal for those who love the feeling of fizz in every sip. We highly recommend the Vera Wang Bande Toasting Flutes.
Sophisticated and sustainable
When selecting your napkins – the colour is obviously a personal preference, be it red for romance, blue to match your partners eye colour, or rustic bronze to match the dining room décor, it really is whatever floats your boat! But high-quality fabric napkins are not only the height of sophistication but the eco-friendly sustainable version we should all embrace. We love these playful and romantic heart napkins from Sophie Allport – and matching table runners and fabric placemats are also available.
Say it with flowers
Finally, don’t forget to place a single red rose in the centre of the table. Elegant, subtle, and extremely romantic. We love this stunning rose which comes beautifully gift boxed from Inter Rose alternatively this perfectly preserved single rose from Abbott Lyon makes the ideal centrepiece and it can last for up to three years.
The perfect recipe
And of course, here’s some recipe ideas to help you put together the perfect menu for Valentine’s day that’ll leave your loved one wanting a-more!
Whatever you decide, we hope you have a wonderful evening!
