Dinner Date Guide

Planning a romantic night in and have no idea what to cook? We’ve got the perfect menu for you! To ensure there’s no Bridget Jones ‘Blue Soup’ type disasters or Mrs Doubtfire ‘bra’s on fire’  catastrophies, we’ve trawled the net to find the tastiest, easiest and most date appropriate recipes.

First Things First – Set the Scene

You want to be romantic, but in a subtle way...tea light candles and flowers are ok, a butler service and a string quartet are not. If you have a dinner table, dress it nicely - think placemats, your finest crockery etc. If you’re in a house-share with friends who aren’t so good at subtlety or privacy, then an indoor picnic set-up in your bedroom can be super cute and romantic. Throw a blanket and some cushions on the floor, light a few candles and flick on the mood lighting.

*IMPORTANT: Don’t forget the music! Make a playlist of your favourite tracks – it’ll be a great conversation starter. 

Onto the food…

Starters are off the menu - it’s a date, not Come Dine with Me so a few olives and nuts will suffice!

Option 1: Chilli Prawn Linguine

An elegant dish with a touch of heat, and it only takes 35 minutes to prepare. Leaving plenty of time to a) get ready and b) frantically tidy the house.Click here for the recipe >>

Option 2: Grilled New York Steaks with a Cherry Port Compote
 



You can’t go wrong with Steak, and this one comes with a fancy side serving of compote that on correct execution will make you look like an absolute God / Goddess in the Kitchen. Serve with chips, homemade ideally (but to be honest, your date probably wouldn’t question your integrity if you served up McCains).

We got this recipe from Spoon Fork Bacon, a fantastic food blog by Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park. They’ve got delicious recipes for every occasion that'll suit all tastes. Also, their website is easy to use and looks beautiful!

 

Check out the recipe here >>

 One for the veggies...

Pasta with aubergine and tomato sauce – a classic Italian dish, suitably fancy and easy to put together. Jamie Oliver has got an awesome recipe for this dish, it will become a favourite. 

 

For Dessert?

 

Obviously for dessert, we call upon Nigella Lawson and her Molton Chocolate Babycakes...

If this sounds too tricky (or too time consuming), no one would say no to a tub of Ben & Jerry’s. And if they do, they’re probably not worth your time and effort anyway...

And to drink…

Always start the evening with a bottle of Prosecco, it creates a sense of occasion (without the champagne price-tag). That’s home-grown advice over at Flirtify, but as for the rest of your meal we’d recommend using the wonder that is the internet. Specifically this awesome website, Matching Food & Wine.

Created by award-winning food and wine writer Fiona Beckett, the site makes it really easy to find the perfect wine for your menu. Use the ‘Find A Match’ feature and you’re well on your way to becoming a wine connoisseur...

 

 

Mastered the Dinner but don't yet have a date? Find one at Flirtify! >>