Valentine’s Day comes with all sorts of pressures to impress your date in really outlandish ways. Flash mobs are our cursed, modern-day versions of singing telegrams, but worse, because they’re in a mall; teens continue to set the bar for romantic gestures obscenely high with elaborate promposals. And there's no chance in hell you're going to get a table at Extremely Cool Restaurant You've Been Meaning to Try because, well, you snoozed on the reservations again.
Advertisement
If your Valentine’s Day plans this year are going to include a significant other (or someone you’re tryna make your SO), drop the theatrics and opt for a sexy-but-not-serious home-cooked meal. You can treat your special someone to a romantic meal without tapered candles, white tablecloths, and a wine list full of words you can't understand.Here are our favorite appetizers, cocktails, entrees, sides and desserts for a V-Day meal that keeps your night of romancing fun and—as is the nature of this most ridiculous of corporate holidays—a little absurd.You might not be able to swing a spontaneous trip to some romantic getaway for Valentine's, but this decadent appetizer is a like taking a mini-tour of two of the best foods New Orleans has to offer: beignets and chicory coffee, but all dressed up with braised duck and a creamy foie gras sauce.A pork pâté is a pretty rustic, but labor-intensive, French dish. What better way to make your special someone feel extra special than taking the extra effort to make your date night snack a little nicer than Ritz crackers and Cheddar cheese cubes?Making a classic fondue keeps your V-Day whimsical and fun—dunking your food in cheese sauce is always fun—and relatively easy to set up. That leaves you more time to find a music option less on-the-nose than Marvin Gaye to set the mood.
Starters
Sweet Potato and Duck Beignets with Foie Gras Fondue Recipe
Bacon-Wrapped Country Pate Recipe
Classic Fondue Recipe
Advertisement
Smoked Oysters with Ramp Butter Recipe
Waffles and Caviar Recipe
Drinks
Cannabis-Infused Classic Martini Recipe
The Ritz L'Aperitif Recipe
Aperol Betty Recipe
Blood Orange and Tequila Cocktail Recipe
Advertisement
Cider Vermouth Cocktail Recipe
Entrees
Fancy Hot Dog Recipe
Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe
Perfect Rib-Eye Steak Recipe
Homemade Seafood Tower Recipe
Vegan Lasagna Recipe
Advertisement
Sides
Roasted Asparagus with Mushrooms and Ramps Recipe
Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Kale, and Citrus Salad Recipe
Sausage and Chianti Risotto Recipe
Easy Green Bean Salad Recipe
Salt-Baked Beets Recipe
Dessert
Classic Chocolate Lava Cakes Recipe
Advertisement