SO IT’S ALMOST VALENTINE’S DAY, and you haven’t scored a restaurant reservation. Or maybe you’ve chosen to abstain from the madness of one of the busiest nights for restaurants. Whatever the case, you need a delicious Plan B for this most romantic of holidays. Here are some ideas from the Blue Kitchen archives that might be just what you’re looking for.
Start by sharing. One of my absolute go-to starters, for dinner parties or for just the two of us, is this shared Endive Salad with Blue Cheese and Walnuts. Sure, shared plates are all the rage now, but this one invites you to eat with your hands, using only the endive leaves—and your fingers—to scoop up the savory, tangy chopped deliciousness. This salad will go nicely with any of the entrees below.
Keep playing with your food. Not only do you eat Mussels in Tarragon Cream with your hands, you use the shells to slurp the creamy broth. And you tear crusty bread to sop up the last of it. A wonderfully intimate way to share a meal. And as a bonus, it, it’s quick and easy to prepare, and mussels are sustainable and definitely won’t break the bank.
Duck is impressive—and easy. Especially when you only cook the breasts. For Duck Breasts with Pears and Shallots, the pan seared breasts are finished in the oven. Pear wedges are sautéed in the duck fat with shallots, garlic and tarragon, and everything is topped with silky sauce of brandy, balsamic vinegar, chicken broth and butter.
Try a French twist. Sole meunière was the classic dish that hooked Julia Child on French food, starting her on a life-changing path that ultimately touched millions of lives. Here, I’ve substituted the more dramatic looking skate. Its sweet flesh beautifully reinvents the French favorite as Skate Meunière with Browned Butter and Capers.
Swap lamb for steaks. Yes, steaks can be a delicious Valentine’s Day dinner, especially if not Flintstone-sized. Marion made steaks for us on our very first Valentine’s Day together. But lamb chops can be both richer and lighter—and elegantly unexpected. For Lamb Chops with Cherry Marsala Sauce, quickly pan-seared chops are topped with a sauce of dried tart cherries, Marsala wine, shallots, rosemary and garlic. The results have a bigger wow factor than the degree of difficulty would suggest.
Finish with chocolate. So far, the recipes have been quick and easy. Marion’s (Almost) Flourless Chocolate Cake is make ahead and easy. And it is an absolute favorite among family and friends. A mere sliver of this rich, dense cake is all you need. So if Valentine’s Day fizzles for you, you’ll have plenty left to help you forget.
And to drink? Champagne is always a safe choice. But a classic French 75 Cocktail amps up bubbly considerably, with gin, triple sec, lemon juice and simple syrup. Conveniently, the recipe makes two.
Whatever you make, even if it’s reservations, Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone.
There are several foods that scare me (to prepare, not in a restaurant) – shellfish still in the shell being at the very top of the list. Not ready yet to face mussels or live lobsters or clams or etc. But a nice lamb chop might be just the thing, and that cocktail sounds like exactly my taste! btw, I’ve got the chicken thighs from last week on the menu for Sunday – we’re expecting bitter cold weather here Sunday and Monday (Presdients’ Day), so I’m planning on not leaving the house. Granted a high in the teens and a low near zero might be a relief to you Chicagoans, but around here it’s cataclysmic. And not objectively comfortable in either case.
We always avoid restaurants on Valentine’s Day (well, night) and New Year’s Eve — always crowded, always expensive, and often an unsatisfying experience. So it’s home cooking for us! We haven’t decided what we’ll do yet — we’ll probably decide the morning of the day itself — but it’ll be somewhat fancy. And you’ve given us some great idea! Thanks.
Anita, we endure the cold in Chicago as a badge of honor, but we don’t relish it. Still, we also don’t let it stop us. Once, I was trying to get a friend to go out to some gallery openings. The temperature was -4º and the wind chills were 20 to 30 below. My friend insisted that I call a gallery to make sure they were open. They said, “Of course!” When we got to the galleries, they were packed. For in the shell shellfish, try some mussels sometime. They are so easy to cook and very reasonably priced.
John, we sometimes have gone out for Valentine’s Day (night), with plenty of advanced planning and reservations. But cooking something fancy at home can be romantic and fun. Whatever you cook, enjoy!