Valentines Day is just a heartbeat away, on a Saturday this year, which means more time to come up with something unique for your loved one. A romantic dinner is always a great way to show you care. If champagne wishes and caviar dreams are on your mind, however, read no further. Our aim is to instead provide some more approachable ideas for serving up romance.
Although indulgence goes hand-in-hand with this holiday of love, there's no need to go overboard and break the bank (unless you're banking on the aphrodisiac factor, in which case, cha-ching -- live large).
With a bit of forethought and attention to detail, good comfort food can be made into a truly heartfelt and memorable meal. If you're not the best cook or despise being a kitchen slave on any holiday, don't be afraid to purchase prepared food and personalize it with added ingredients and garnishes.
These dishes and their serving suggestions are five simple ways to say "I love you" with food. Of course, a romantic meal is all relative. The key is knowing what tickles your loved one's taste buds, or simply preparing something from the heart.
1. Shrimp cocktail: This classic and classy appetizer is easy to prepare as a starter for a romantic dinner. For a how-to, see Key Ingredients.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM 2. New England clam chowder: A warm bowl soothes and comforts. For a recipe, see Key Ingredients.
3. Temaki for two: Sushi may not immediately come to mind as romantic, but how about temaki for two? Purchase your favorite fillings, such as ahi poke, spicy ahi, tako poke, smoked salmon or crab meat and an array of caviar -- ikura (salmon roe), tobiko (flying fish roe) and wasabi tobiko. Temaki nori can be found cut to size at most Asian markets. Prepare hot white rice with rice vinegar, sugar and salt while still hot, then let cool. Set out the ingredients in lacquered bowls and prepare temaki together. Place ingredients at an angle and don't overstuff. Rolling may take some practice, but that's the fun of it.
4. Pasta: Disney's classic "Lady and the Tramp" pegged pasta as a romantic dish for two when a single strand of spaghetti had the doggies locking lips. Pasta dishes are hearty and satisfying, and with the endless array of tasty, ready-made sauces available, a good pasta meal is almost foolproof. Whether you're using fresh or dried pasta, the key is always to cook it al dente, or "to the bite." Store-bought sauces can be enriched with seafood such as shrimp or clams, or earthy wild mushrooms such as porcini, chanterelles, morels and the meaty eryngii. For an excellent selection of fresh pastas and sauces check out C&C Pasta Co. in Kaimuki. Oh, and mood music -- try the Italian classic "That's Amore" -- wouldn't hurt, either.
5 Cheesecake: Along with chocolate, cheesecake is among the most decadent desserts. You could invest a pretty penny in a whole New York-style cheesecake, but unless you're expecting a dozen people, it'll be impossible to finish in one sitting. There are other options. The new Cheesecake Factory in Waikiki sells more than 30 flavors by the slice. Or, frozen cheesecakes can be just as good as fresh these days. Dress up a small, plain cheesecake with fresh flowers or slices of fresh strawberries dusted with powdered sugar. A berry sauce made of blended frozen berries and sugar makes for a light contrast to the rich creamy cake. Or, make a chocolate ganache by heating heavy cream and stirring in chocolate chips or a good semi-sweet bar. Use the ganache to draw a fancy design on the plate or write "I love you" -- or, dare we suggest, "Will you marry me?" -- next to the slice. Heck, top it off with a sparkling diamond ring and you're good to go!
Whole Lotta Love
Celebrate Valentine's week with us:Monday: Singles count on friends, not valentines.
Yesterday: Pick a gift for your beloved.
Tomorrow: How do you measure up on our love scale? Plus, our "Magic Moments" contest winners.
Friday: Turn your home into a love nest.
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