FOOD FOR THOUGHT
You could go out for dinner… but why not stay at home for a date night? With tips on planning, scene setting and great food, here’s your ultimate recipe for romance.
LIGHTS! CANDLES! ACTION!
For a truly romantic meal, set the scene, prep ahead and keep food simple. Our experts talk us through their tips
● CLEAR CLUTTER
Nothing says ‘I love you’ like… a pile of bank statements and a tangle of phone chargers chucked on your sideboard, right? Interiors expert Ann Marie Cousins (amcinteriordesign.co.uk) says clearing away clutter from your kitchen and dining area should be the first scene-setting step. ‘If you’re out for dinner, you have that step change of leaving the house and going into a different zone. You don’t have that with an at-home date night,’ she says. ‘Clearing surfaces and tidying really helps to transform your space into a place of romance.’
● DIM THE LIGHTS
‘It might sound obvious, but do keep lights low for a romantic atmosphere,’ says Ann Marie. ‘If you don’t have dimmers, use floor and table lamps. Rechargeable table lamps are brilliant – they’ve shaken off their camping trip image and you can now get beautiful styles.’ Find an affordable selection at dunelm.com, or try pooky.com for something special.
● MAKE IT SPECIAL
We shouldn’t need an excuse to spoil our loved ones – but no one ever gets tired of a bit of adoration! Take this opportunity to show them how much you care. Use your best glasses and crockery and lay the table in advance so they don’t feel obliged to lift a finger. Candles are thought to be romantic for good reason: they are the most flattering form of lighting and, clichéd as it may sound, they do show you’ve made an extra effort. Ann Marie recommends placing pillar candles of different heights on a mirrored tray for a lovely glow. To whet your appetites, serve a grown-up cocktail, like a negroni, paired with elegant bowls of salty olives, anchovies and hand-cooked truffle crisps (we love Tyrrells Truffle & Sea Salt Flavour English Crisps; £2.75 for 135g, sainsburys.co.uk).
● KEEP STARTERS SIMPLE
No one wants to nurse a drink alone while their beloved rushes around. ‘Don’t feel you have to create something complicated,’ says Skye McAlpine, author of A Table Full of Love (Bloomsbury, £26). ‘To kick off your romantic feast, it’s hard to beat shell-on prawns, dipped luxuriously into mayonnaise, or a delicious, whole-baked Camembert… both involve minimal prep, meaning you’re free to enjoy a glass of fizz.’
● DISPLAY FRUIT AND FLOWERS
Flowers will show you’ve made an extra effort; arrange in a low vase or glass. And a
