What to cook for a romantic meal?

Question

I have been with my boyfriend for about 17 months and last year for his birthday I made a really big effort because I wanted to really impress him. I cooked a really fancy meal for him (and I'm talking really fancy it took me weeks to prepare) and I had candles, gold stars on the table cloth, a deep red rose, champagne, home cooked everything etc etc.

I want to do the same again this year but I don't know what to cook - it has to meet the same standards as last year and I just don't know how I'm going to do it! Last year I did toast and pate for starters, roast lamb for main and homemade cheesecake for desert.

Any ideas for a menu will be gratefully appreciate.

Thanks everbody - these answers are great and loads of inspiration! I actually did the picnic thing once before and it really is a good idea - highly recommend it if anyone is planning a romantic meal

Answer 1

what about a lovely romantic three course meal containing :
starter : smoked salmon pate
ingredients :
250g smoked salmon
175g salted butter, plus extra to seal
lemon juice, to taste
1 tablespoon cognac or dry white vermouth
142ml carton of double cream, whipped lightly
a little ground black pepper

To garnish
a sprig of fresh dill or a little dried dill (optional)

method:
Cut the salmon into small pieces. Heat the butter gently and remove immediatelty from the heat once it has melted.
Pour it into a liquidiser or food processor, add the salmon and process until the mixture is very smooth.
Add a little lemon juice, white pepper and the cognac or dry white vermouth and mix through.
Scoop the mixture into a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature without beginning to set.
Fold in the cream evenly and lightly.
Scoop the pate into individual rame skins or one larger attractive container.
When the pate is set and thoroughly chilled, seal the top with a little melted butter, and decorate with a sprig of fresh dill or a sprinkle of dried dill.

main course : salmon fillets with stuffed pastery hearts
indgredients:
15g butter
120g bag of watercress, spinach and rocket salad
or ½ x 225g bag young leaf spinach
2 tablespoons crème fraîche
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon (optional)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
50g puff pastry
2 x 125g salmon fillets
1 teaspoon olive oil
small clove garlic, crushed

method:
Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, gas mark 6.
Heat the butter in a small saucepan, add the salad leaves or spinach and cook for 1 minute, stirring continually until wilted.
Remove from the heat and stir in the crème fraîche, bouillon if using, and season to taste. Blend until smooth and set to one side.
Roll out the pastry , cut out 6 small heart shapes and place on a baking tray in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until golden and well risen.
Place the salmon fillets in a frying pan, best side down, with the oil and garlic and cook for approximately 3 minutes each side, until cooked through.
Serve the salmon with the sauce spooned over and top with the pastry hearts.

desert:flamed strawberry's and chocolate
ingredients :
100g bar dark chocolate - 70% cocoa solids
360g punnet strawberries
4 tablespoons Brandy or Kirsch
50g caster sugar
25g butter
2 tablespoons double cream


method:Place the chocolate in a bowl & place over a pan of hot water to melt. Hull the strawberries & cut in half.
Heat a frying pan over a medium heat & add the strawberries & the Brandy or Kirsch. Cook for 30 seconds only, then remove from the heat. Light with a match and stand back. Once the flames have gone, remove the strawberries to a serving plate keeping the juices in the pan.
Put the frying pan back over the heat, add the sugar and butter, & stir together until the mixture begins to caramelise. Lastly add the cream & stir through.
Pour the sauce over the strawberries, drizzle over the melted chocolate, & serve immediately.

ENJOY ... I HOPE I HELPED

Answer 2

I really liked the picnic idea---you can make that really special by getting a fancy picnic basket and a lovely blanket or, oooo, even a piece of satin or silky material for you guys to sit on. Then you can make your food choices as simple or fancy as you want, but remember: finger food is always fun. If it were me, I'd get a nice crusty loaf of bread, some good cheeses like brie, some grapes, strawberries, hummus, maybe some dipping chocolate. You can feed each other;-) Decorate the room to make it look like the outdoors. String up some white Christmas lights for "stars",

Answer 3

why don't you have a nighttime picnic with your boyfriend, complete with the basket, the blanket, and some food and drinks?

i think your boyfriend will appreciate anything you'd cook, however easy or complicated it'll be because YOU prepared it FOR him.

but if you're still deadset on cooking a full course meal, then why don't you pop in the bookstore, then look at themed menues, like prepare all italian or all thai, get the idea then google the recipe!

good luck!

Answer 4

Why not try sweet chili egg noodle salad. Or loaded potato skins for a starter.
- Put a range of salad leaves in a bowl, top with crispy noodles and drizzle over sweet chili sauce.
or - cut potatoes into wedge like shapes and scoop out the inside. Mix the inside of the potato with cheese and cooked bacon. Fill the potato skins back up with the mixture and cook in the oven for 35 mins. You can drizzle a sauce of your choice over the top and serve with salad.

For main - every man loves his steak.
Cook it just the way he likes it, onions, mushrooms, salad, peppercorn sauce and potatoes of your choice.

For dessert - why not try individual meringues - filled with strawberries, mango etc and cream

Answer 5

Starters
Bruschetta on Italian toast with shaved Parmesan
Appetisers
Chilled raw oysters with lemon and/or tabasco or
Creamy aspargus soup
Salad
Tossed baby greens with balsamic vinagrette
Entree
Rack of Lamb
Roasted baby potatoes
Sauteed Spinach w garlic in EVO.
Dessert
Key Lime Pie