Fancy dinner reservations, red roses, and chocolate? Those are for amateurs. If you want to plan a hot Valentine's Day, remember what they say about the way to someone's heart. This year, stay where the action is—in the kitchen. Epicurious turned to Curtis Stone, the chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and host of Bravo's Top Chef Masters, for his best recipes and ideas for a romantic night at home. This February 14 is Stone's first as a married man (he and actress Lindsay Price wed in June 2013), and he'll be spending it in the kitchen of his new Beverly Hills restaurant, Maude. But that hasn't stopped Stone from making plans for a special celebration to remind his wife that she's the love of his life.
石头给我们不仅仅是一个,而是两个情人节menus, both inspired by his wife's tastes and preferences. "With Valentine's Day, the most important thing is that you think about the person you're cooking for," he emphasizes. The first menu, a quick, festive meal of juicy steak tacos that finishes with a sensual caramel dessert, reflects his wife's Korean heritage and the casual California lifestyle Stone's family loves. It also includes one of Lindsay's favorite foods from when she was pregnant with their son—guacamole, with a personal twist. "She had this wild craving for guacamole that went on for literally seven months of her pregnancy, so I tried absolutely everything in guacamole. I got so sick of it that I had to do something different," reveals Stone. "I've really tried every herb and spice you can imagine. I've tried mixing different flavors from different cuisines. And [cumin] was one I thought worked really well." If you're after a relaxed, playful ambiance, it really doesn't get any easier than tacos and guacamole. They're quick to prepare and eat (so you can finish up fast and move onto the couch), you eat with your hands (inherently sexy), and you finish the meal with a dessert that's incredibly silky smooth.
The second menu, with sashimi salad and lobster curry, is more elaborate. It's a pull-out-all-the-stops menu designed to impress, and entice. The dishes reflect Stone's appreciation of his wife's love of seafood—especially lobster—and spicy flavors. "I think it's much more thoughtful when you consider the person and do something from the heart." And, as he cannily points out, "Chiles are an aphrodisiac, so that is a good thing around Valentine's Day." To conclude the meal, the chef recommends a simple lemon curd. "I always think of tropical fruits after a spicy meal. You could do a lemon curd with a little vanilla shortbread, use a little whipped cream or citrus fruits," suggests Stone. "Curds are really simple to make and they're really, really delicious, and you can do it ahead of time." The lobster adds a touch of extravagance to the meal, while the curry turns up the heat and prolongs the pleasure. Most of the menu can be prepped and made in advance so you've got more time to spend with your sweetie and not with the stove.
Chef Stone's Tips for a Memorable Valentine's Day Dinner at Home
Get a head start.Plan your menu so "you can do 90 percent of the prep work ahead of time," Stone advises. His Salted Caramel Pots de Crème are a perfect example: "Pop them in the fridge and then just pull them out when it's time to eat so you don't have to be up and down all night from the kitchen. There's nothing romantic about sitting at the table for two on your own."
Engage all the senses."Think about the lighting. That's the first thing you notice when you walk into a room," Stone points out. "Choose music you know your partner likes, or choose something a bit more romantic. Set the table with little touches." Are ranunculus your significant other's favorite flowers? Arrange a few in a drinking glass. Or maybe it's setting the table with the good china and silverware. "It doesn't have to be a huge, grand gesture. Even just a simple handwritten card is really nice."
Got kids? Set aside some adult time."I think it's important to occasionally be selfish—selfish for you, selfish for your relationship, selfish for your partner. It doesn't make you a bad parent to say, We want to have a date night, or We want to have a really special time," maintains Stone. So get some help, whether it's a babysitter (tip well!), parents, or friends. Or just put the kids to bed and "have [y]our party and have a good adult time. You can wake up with a smile, thinking about what a great night you had. Makes the headache much more manageable."
Still want to go out? Take it from Stone: You don't have to celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th."It's a tricky night because restaurants book out fast. I'll spend it behind the stoves at Maude. I'll be making everybody else's Valentine's come true, but we'll be closed on Sunday, so [Lindsay and I] are going to delay our Valentine's Day a little. I think you can always choose when you're going to celebrate your Valentine's Day."
