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Romantic Dinner Ideas for 2
by Katiana Zimmerman
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Overview
Don't wait until Valentine's Day to enjoy your next romantic dinner for two. Plan a decadent evening to tempt your special someone. Celebrate an anniversary, a promotion or a new chapter in your relationship. Whether you dine at home, in a restaurant or elsewhere, plan the details well in advance so that you can relax, connect and enjoy each other's company.
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Save the Date
Extend the invitation to dinner with a special note or romantic gift for your sweetheart. Send her a card, a poem, a love letter or a photo of the two of you. Surprise him with a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates or home-baked muffins. Attach a tag with the date, time and location of your upcoming rendezvous.
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Dine in Style
Choose the setting for your romantic evening together. Prepare a delectable dinner or a candlelight picnic. Get outside: Romance and nature go hand in hand. Outdoor options include the beach, a museum courtyard, botanical gardens, or an observatory for some after-dinner stargazing. Drive to a local winery and enjoy the scenery, the vineyards and dinner with unique wine parings. Dine at a restaurant that has significance for the two of you. Visit the spot where you had your first date or shared a favorite meal or dessert.
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Mood Music
Set the mood for the evening with romantic music. Choose music that is meaningful to both of you. Romantic choices include standards like Frank Sinatra, Brazilian bossa nova, Baroque music or classic R&B. If you're dining in, turn down the lights and turn up the volume. If you are driving to dinner, listen on the way to your destination.
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Dining Out
Bring her favorite flowers to the restaurant to lend a personal touch to the meal. Order a bottle of Italian Prosecco or sparkling Pinot Grigio and enjoy the bubbly at a third of the price of champagne, without sacrificing taste. Call the restaurant in advance to order a special dessert for the two of you to share, like chocolate-dipped strawberries.
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Dining In
Create a romantic atmosphere using candles or branches draped with white lights, flowers, shells or other natural elements that enhance the décor. Lighting is everything: Turn off overhead lights and use table lamps and candles. Drape a scarf over a lampshade to create romantic mood lighting. Create a modern romantic feel on the dinner table with river rocks, floating candles,and branches. Transform the living room into an cozy picnic spot with blankets and fluffy floor pillows. Use the coffee table as a staging area for the meal and as a safe place for candles.
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Palate Pleasers
Choose food you both love. Finger foods are sexy, playful, and perfect for sharing. Try eating Indian, Moroccan, or Ethiopian food with your hands. If you're dining in, serve a cheese platter with dried figs, candied nuts, olives and rustic bread to nibble with wine. Celebrity chef Rachael Ray suggests Cognac Sauced Pepper Steaks as "serious date night food." Cheese and chocolate fondues are also a delicious dinner option, and a snap to prepare at home.
