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Valentine's Day - Dinner Party Ideas

by Roseanne Cantisani    

Creating a dinner party for two or ten starts the same way, with a menu. First step is to review the space available for dinner. Is there room for a sit down dinner or would a buffet work better in your home or apartment. Second you want to develop a menu that won't keep you in the kitchen all night but at the table with your partner and friends. Third you want to plan a dessert that will be a grand finale to a fabulous evening or the beginning of a romantic night for two!

So let's start with the space, if you are planning a buffet the key would be to create a meal that does not require cutting with a knife. Items that work real well are rice, grilled shrimp or beef kabobs, salad prepared with bite size pieces of lettuce and pre-dressed, baked rosemary potatoes, purred soups, baked fish, should not be cut but rather flaked with a fork. The choices are endless it all depends upon the pallet of the guest or guests.

Start prepping early in the day so that you have plenty of time to tidy up the place and clean yourself up with out stressing. Keep in mind even if you invited a group of people over your partner will still be looking at you and thinking about how wonderful you are and what time the guests will be leaving.  Set the atmosphere as warm and romantic as possible, fund upbeat music and candles work great. Remember its Valentines Day and it should feel that way for your guests or one special guest!

Valentine's Day Menus that are simple to prepare:

Buffet Menu

Grilled Marinated Shrimp or Beef Kabobs

Rice Primavera or Pesto Rice with sliced black olives

Salad, mixed greens dressed with extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar

Basket of bread and sesame bread sticks

Choclate Straberry Sweets

Dinner For Six

Broiled pork loin with baked quartered rosemary potatoes

Steamed broccoli with lemon mustard sauce

Bread with extra virgin olive oil for dipping

Fresh Strawberries with whipped cream or cool whip

My Valentine Favorite

Broiled or grilled salmon or tuna with teriyaki marinate

Bok Choy with shredded carrot and sesame seeds

Steamed rice with a drizzle of olive oil or a tab of butter for flavor and to avoid sticking

Vanilla ice cream topped with a fortune cookie (either homemade or purchased)

Come to Dateable.com/simplydelicious to find these great recipes and more! The Valentines' Day menus will be also available by e-mail. Just send a blank e-mail to the gourmet@dateable.com :)


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©2001 - Roseanne Cantisani About the author: Roseanne Cantisani is a freelance writer and editor of dateable.com/simplydelicious, a web site dedicated to simple, healthy cooking. You can find articles, recipes, kitchen and cooking products, and a forum for any cooking or entertaining questions. If you like this article please sign up for the simply delicious newsletter at http://dateable.com/simplydelicious/ or send an email to the gourmet@dateable.com