There's nothing quite as romantic as cooking a meal for that special someone-- especially on
Valentine's Day. Being served an elegant dinner in a sensual atmosphere with roaring fire, soft music, flickering candles,
the exquisite smell of a bouquet of flowers and a chilled bottle of champagne sets the stage for a wonderfully romantic mood.
All it takes is time, one thing we don't have a lot of with today's busy schedules.
Love the idea of surprising your Valentine but not the shopping, hours of preparation and seemingly
endless cleanup? A hot trend today and a great solution is that couples are now making their reservations for a personal
chef. It's a great alternative to fine dining out. Hiring a professional to take over the arrangements for a dinner
for two or a cozy couples night gourmet affair, allows couples to relax and spend time with one another in the comfort of
their own home.
Stress-Free Romance
A personal chef can create a perfect culinary dinner with special touches and romantic innovations
making your dinner romantic, sensual and exciting. Personal chefs can welcome couples with seductive hors d'oeuvres
and a favorite cocktail, such as a cranberry kir royale dotted with strawberries to bring out the champagne's flavor, or a
classic martini to start the repast.
To improve the mood and ignite the evening's pleasures, make sure there are plenty of aphrodisiacs.
Include in the menu one or more of the following: shellfish, particularly the oysters (the king of aphrodisiacs), chocolate
(the queen of aphrodisiacs); vanilla (ranked one of the five most atractive aromas to men), chili peppers (straddling the
fine line between pleasure and pain to create that frenzy of passion), licorice or anise flavors, finger fruits like figs,
strawberries and grapes, and of course, caviar and champagne.
If you can afford the best in caviar, that is the platinum standard of exquisite indulgence
to start the evening and enhance glamorous amour. However, for vegetarians, there is a CaviArt distributed by Noble
International Foods, which is a vegetarian caviar alternative that has the look and texture of the real thing.
Couples should relax and enjoy a scrumptious four-course dinner that includes their choice of
aphrodisiacs, such as oysters with an oriental mignonette, the kiss of a light crisp salad, an elegant main course of lobster
or filet mignon au poivre and delicious side dishes. (Suggested recipes are included at the end of this article.)
Kick up the passion with fresh-brewed espresso and cordials and a choice of tempting desserts,
such as truffles frambois, heart-shaped chocolate tortes or chocolate covered strawberries for the finale.
Setting the Mood
February 14 is associated with love and romance. It's all in the special
details that create that passionate mood from the slow music choices of Rod Stewart's It Had To Be You, Jose
Feliciano's Senor Bolero, Chris Botti's Night Sessions, anything by Frank Sinatra or a beautiful opera.
When decorating, I like to incorporate lots of votives because everyone looks great in soft
amber lighting, crystal stemware, which will twinkle in the soft lights, a beautiful white or pink damask or antique tablecloth
to make the room look and feel like fine restaurant dining.
Tips:
- Make your menu items quick and simple. Focus on menu items that can be prepared in advance and reheated so you can
spend as much time with your special someone with an effortless and relaxed air.
- Be creative with your romantic dinner so it will provide you with the inspiration, energy and special touches that will
make your evening memorable. Incorporate things that will appeal to all of the senses with contrasts in color, texture,
aromas and flavors.
- Feeding each other with delectable bite-sized morsels is exciting. And lobster is a very sexy food to eat (for inspiration,
rent Flashdance and watch the lobster scene with Jennifer Beals.) Remember with finger foods, it's really the sensuous way
you're eating the food with your fingers that becomes the turn-on.
- Choose on the lighter side of culinary options so that there is plenty of energy left for romance.
Chef Michele owns and operates VIP Chef Services in Weston. She can be reached at 203-221-7711
or e-mail info@vipchef.com. Her web site, at www.vipchef.com, includes recipes, such as those that follow.
Cranberry Kir Royale
1 ounce cranberry concentrate
champagne
For each champagne
flute, combine 1 ounce of cranberry concentrate and fill the rest of the glass with champagne. Garnish with fresh strawberries
or a single strawberry.
Decadent, Heart-Shaped Chocolate Torte
6 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semi-sweet
chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened, cut into
cubes
6 large eggs
confectioners sugar for dusting
fanned strawberries and mint sprig for garnish
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Tightly wrap springform pan
with three sheets of heavy duty foil. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine both chocolates in metal bowl. Set over saucepan of simmering water and stir just until melted; remove from
over water.
Bring only one cup of the sugar and 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water to boil in saucepan
over medium high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and syrup forms. Gradually stir hot syrup into melted chocolate, 1/8
cup at a time or syrup will seize (mixture may look curdled). Add butter; stir to blend. Use rubber spatula to
combine.
Using electric mixer, beat eggs and 1/2 cup sugar in bowl; blend well about two minutes.
Using rubber spatula, gently fold egg mixture into warm chocolate mixture. Transfer batter to cake pan and put into
bain marie (water bath).
Bake until wooden skewer comes out with moist crumbs attached, about
45-50 minutes. Remove cake pan from bain marie. Remove foil and cool on wire rack. Transfer cake to platter;
dust with confectioners sugar.
Chef's note: This dessert can be served as is. For a special Valentine's touch, use a 1-inch heart-shaped cookie
cutter and cut hearts out of the chocolate cake. Arrange two hearts on each dessert plate. Garnish with one fanned
strawberry, a dollop of fresh whipped cream and a mint sprig. Remaining "bits" can be shaped into truffles and lightly
dusted with cocoa powder.
Oysters On The Half Shell With Oriental Mignonette
