If there were ever a day made for cooking for two it's Saint Valentines Day. Food is a sensuous experience and love is a sensuous experience, so combine the two and celebrate hedonism and the senses. This menu offers foods of love, some are actual reputed aphrodisiacs while others are simply licentious by nature. Most of these can be prepared in advance, giving you plenty of time for a little pre-dinner flirting.
Beginnings...
Personally, I would start with a little goat cheese (chèvre) spread on thinly-sliced bites of baguette and topped with caviar. Another alternative is oysters, they're a bit more trouble but, like the caviar, are reputedly an aphrodisiac. Either would be an outstanding beginning to the meal, particularly with a half-bottle of a good California sparkling wine such as Domaine Ste. Michele.
You might also want to check out this Valentine's Day Menu for Two if this one isn't what you had in mind.
Beef Wellington: Elegant, Easy, Exceptional
Kevin D Weeks
This is one of the most elegant and delicious entrées you can serve. It's also the most popular recipe I've ever published and it can be completely prepped the day before so all you need to do is slip it in the oven for 30 minutes. Besides, filet mignon is the sexiest of meats. Follow the link to the recipe and a tutorial on how to make it. Serves 2.
Pureed Cauliflower: Smooth, Rich, Tangy
Copyright 2009 Kevin D Weeks
Caulifower isn't an aphrodisiac, but this puree flavored with Parmigiano Reggiano is an outstanding complement to the rest of the meal, as satisfying as mashed potatoes but not nearly as heavy, and garnished with a few celery leaves it looks beautiful on the plate. Serves 2.
Baked Leeks with Lemon and Garlic
Copyright 2009 Kevin D Weeks
Leeks are a wonderfully mild member of the onion family frequently served with potatoes in soups and gratins. In this recipe the leeks are blanched, then topped with garlic flavored butter, lemon zest, and buttered bread crumbs. This is a great side dish for almost any meal, whether beef, fish, poultry, or pork. Serves 2.
Chocolate Espresso Mousse: Sexy, Sensuous, Sensational
Crystal (Creative Commons Attirbution License, Flickr)
It was the Incas who identified chocolate as a food of love. This recipe is as simple as can be and, like the rest of this menu, can be made in advance. It's wonderfully rich and decadent, easy enough for everyday but best reserved for a special occasion. Serves 2.
