Apart from anniversaries and birthdays, Valentine’s Day must be the most stressful time of the year for blokes.
You’ve got to plan the evening, book a table weeks ahead, and buy the flowers and present. Worst of all, you can’t get your partner to help out (unless you fancy a night on the sofa).
I’d much rather make it a special evening at home. You can splash out on expensive ingredients using the money you’ve saved from a hefty restaurant bill, and you won’t have to worry about driving home.
I’ve come up with an extravagant menu free from garlic and other strong flavours that might resurface unfavourably later in the evening.
We’ll start off with an easy but superb beef and beetroot carpaccio, followed by a mind-blowing risotto of lobsters and champagne, laced with the subtle sweetness of vanilla. And we’ll end the evening with gorgeous little pots of chocolate mousse. All guaranteed to put both of you in a romantic mood.
You won’t want to spend much time in the kitchen on the day, so prepare the dishes in advance. I’ve provided tips to help you get ahead in each of the recipes.
If this isn’t enough to tempt you into the kitchen, get on the phone now – you might just find a table at your local Italian if you’re lucky.