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My husband and I will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day in 2025. Rather than fight the crowds and long lines, we’ll often stay home on our anniversary, and I’ll make a special dinner. Valentine’s Day calls for Romantic Valentine Dinner Ideas!
I love setting an intimate table for two with candles, some Frank Sinatra playing softly in the background, a great bottle of wine, and maybe even roses. Then making a favorite meal I know my husband will love. If the menu is complicated, early preparation is required so I’m not overly stressed when it comes to making the meal. It is my anniversary, too, after all!
Below are Five Romantic Valentine Dinner Ideas to make for your loved one.
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I’m not sure there is anything more romantic than a French dinner for two. The French have a reputation for romance, don’t you know — ooh la la.
Wine Suggestion
If desired, serve this dinner with a nice Chardonnay, such as Kendall-Jackson’s Grand Reserve Chardonnay or Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay.
1
Crescent Lined Baked Brie
Here's a delicious recipe to serve guests when you want a little something special. We love how the cheese oozes once you slice into this yummy goodness.
Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu is an easy, yet elegant recipe for a special dinner. Tender and lightly seasoned chicken breasts rolled up in ham and oozing Swiss cheese baked in a golden brown crust. It’s so good. Your family or guests will think you’ve slaved in the kitchen all day.
Here's a recipe I like to serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu. A dill cream sauce with mushrooms and garlic, served over steamed asparagus and julienned carrots. It really adds a special "je ne sais quoi" to the meal.
Here's a delicious recipe for homemade French Bread to serve with any meal. Delicious with the dipping oil and perfect for your next French or Italian Dinner.
And to end this lovely romantic dinner, how about Creme Brulee with Espresso. This is an amazing dessert to serve your most honored guests. Creamy vanilla custard with the tiniest hint of coffee and a caramelized brittle topping that you must break through with a spoon. Simply divine!
The French are not the only ones with a reputation for romance. Those Italians are pretty romantic, too, with their vineyards, pasta, and a language that will melt your heart. Ti amo – Tesoro mio – Cuore mio! (I love you, My treasure, My heart!)
Wine Suggestion
If desired, serve this lovely dinner with a medium-bodied Merlot or Pinot Noir, such as Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir.
6
Antipasto Skewers with Italian Dressing
If you’re looking for an easy appetizer to make for your next dinner or party, try these Antipasto Skewers with Italian Dressing. They look great on a table, and they are delicious. Plus, they are so easy to put together.
Chicken Parmesan with Linguine was one of the first “Italian” dishes that I learned to make. I’ll never forget pouring in the wine and thinking how tantalizing the sauce smelled with its crushed tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. And it tasted even better.
Figs are a well-known ingredient on Italian tables. They put them in tarts, roast them with meats, make jam with them, serve them with wine and cheese. You get the idea. And they’re pretty amazing in this Spinach Salad with Fig Dressing.
Oh my goodness! This is the best recipe for Sourdough Baguettes–hard and crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, and just the right taste of tangy sourness.
Tiramisu with Cream Cheese is a delicious recipe to try the next time you serve an Italian dinner! Filled with coffee-flavored custard cream and freshly whipped cream layered between ladyfinger cookies and topped with a heavy sprinkling of baking cocoa. So yummy.
#3 – Treat Your Valentine To A Romantic Steak Dinner
Maybe you want to gear this dinner for the man of the hour. If so, I’m not sure there’s a better way than by serving him a tender steak. At least that would be one of my husband’s favorite meals. And there are few meals easier to make than steak.
Wine Suggestion
For this steak dinner, you will want to go with a medium-bodied dry red wine such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sangiovese, or Cabernet Sauvignon such as Stag’s Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
11
Beer-Battered Onion Rings
Beer-Battered Onion Rings are so delicious and surprisingly simple to make. Light and crunchy with thick slices of sweet onion. And the dipping sauce is pretty amazing, too!
Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon is one of the best beef entrees that I’ve had the joy of eating. Tender, juicy beef, seared in a cast iron skillet, wrapped in delicious bacon and full of fabulous flavor. Yes, it’s small compared to it’s counterpart the New York Strip, but wow, does it pack a punch! My husband and I both agree that it was the most tender, delicious steak we’ve ever eaten. It practically melts in your mouth.
While you could easily serve rice or another form of potato with this meal, my husband loves French Fries. Here’s a delicious way to makeBaked Parmesan Fries for your family. Baked to a crispy outer coating that’s perfectly seasoned, these small fries are delicious!
I first made Molasses Rye Bread after my husband and I ate at Outback Steakhouse where they served us the most wonderful dark “Bushman” bread and also my first Bloomin’ Onion! I loved it and knew I had to try making my own. Sweet, dark, and rich. And the perfect companion to a steak dinner.
This Easy Fudge Cake with Ganache Icing is the best chocolate cake I’ve tasted and very easy to make. It’s loaded with fudgy chocolate, using a chocolate cake mix and instant chocolate pudding mix, as well as miniature chocolate chips and a silky Ganache icing.
My husband and I do not go out to eat very often, but when we do, one of our favorite restaurants is Red Lobster. And in January, their specialty is Lobster. Yum! But if lobster isn’t on the menu, shrimp is right next in line. My husband and I both agree that it’s hard to beat a shrimp dinner. It’s one of our favorite specialty meals!
Wine Suggestion
For this Shrimp Scampi dinner, you’ll want to go for a dry, crisp white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or a sparkling prosecco such as Nino Franco Rustico Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore.
16
Salami Rose Appetizers
This Salami Rose Appetizer is perfect for your next dinner party or for a romantic dinner for two. Made with hard salami, fresh basil, grape tomatoes, and cheddar cheese with black and green olives, it really sets a nice tone for a special dinner.
Make Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi when you’re craving shrimp–which I do often! This dish is so quick and easy, it makes a great weeknight dinner. And it’s delicious–so much better than the overly salty scampi you might order at a restaurant.
Spinach Salad with Vinegar Dressing is a nice choice to serve with a shrimp dinner. I love the dressing. It has just the right amount sweetness and seasoning. And it goes perfectly with the spinach salad and toppings.
This Fettuccine with Truffle Sauce and Asparagus is a perfect side dish for shrimp or steak. The truffle sauce is basically an Alfredo Sauce flavored with luxurious black summer truffles, which is so decadent and yummy.
Valentine Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries is one of my favorite desserts to make in February. Formed with Belgian dark chocolate, the heart mold is a chocolate-lover’s dream. Dip fresh strawberries (or your finger) into the delicious chocolate mousse and you’ll be licking your lips all night!
While I could have stopped with the Shrimp dinner, I just had to include this easy tuna recipe as a fifth romantic dinner option.
Wine Suggestion
For this tuna dish, I recommend a light red wine such as a light burgundy or Pinot Noir such as Baileyana Firepeak Pinot Noir.
22
Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip is a yummy appetizer when you want something a little salty and warm. This dip is perfect with crackers (especially Trisket crackers) or toasted sourdough bread.
Tuna with Parsley and Capers is a delicious and easy way to prepare tuna steaks. The parsley, caper, and lemon sauce enhances the flavor of the tuna remarkably well and gives this simple dish stunning appeal that you would expect from fine dining.
Herbed Brown Rice is the perfect side dish to go with tuna steaks. It's quick and easy and quite yummy. Serve this along with a side dish of steamed baby peas for a very easy dinner.
Tangy Sourdough Bread is a great bread choice for many meals, including this Tuna Steak Dinner. It has a wonderful tangy flavor, with a beautiful deep golden brown crust that is crunchy, while the inside is pleasingly soft and chewy.
This Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake is a chocolate-lover's dream dessert. It is a new take on my Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake recipe–made even better, and more chocolaty! More Fudgy! It reminds me of a wonderful chocolate candy truffle. So yummy!
Happy early anniversary. You have so many good options for a romantic dinner. #3 caught my eye since my hubby is a meat and potato man. However, I want #4. Dang, that means I need to cook two dinners.
With all these great options, I can see why you’d enjoy your own cooking as much as dining out. Your breads are bakery-perfect – love the design on the round sourdough. I know my husband would choose that chicken cordon bleu with asparagus. Happy 32nd!
Happy anniversary! Nothing more romantic than marrying on Valentine’s Day! I’m married to a romantic Italian who tells me he loves me every day and calls me ‘amore’! Swoon! He’d love your steak dinner! He loves steaks and chocolate cake! I’m a big seafood fan so the tuna dinner or seafood menu would be my choice! Hard to decide!
Happy early anniversary. You have so many good options for a romantic dinner. #3 caught my eye since my hubby is a meat and potato man. However, I want #4. Dang, that means I need to cook two dinners.
Thank you! We’re going to have #3 this year, with the addition of the Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake. That’s the dessert I want this year!
With all these great options, I can see why you’d enjoy your own cooking as much as dining out. Your breads are bakery-perfect – love the design on the round sourdough. I know my husband would choose that chicken cordon bleu with asparagus. Happy 32nd!
Thanks, Beth! I think we’re going to go with #3 this year. Thank you for stopping by!
Happy anniversary! Nothing more romantic than marrying on Valentine’s Day! I’m married to a romantic Italian who tells me he loves me every day and calls me ‘amore’! Swoon! He’d love your steak dinner! He loves steaks and chocolate cake! I’m a big seafood fan so the tuna dinner or seafood menu would be my choice! Hard to decide!
Thanks, Jacqueline! Swoon, indeed! Thanks be to God for our loving husbands.