It’s the time of year when you get to justify paying astronomical restaurant prices in order to impress the one you love. Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to enjoy a truly decadent meal that fully indulges the senses.
Here at Jacaranda, we want to offer you some of our favourite dishes in the hope that they might make it on to your menu if you happen to be whipping up your own culinary extravaganza.
Any food that requires the use of your fingers, such as asparagus, is well-known to be an aphrodisiac. A communal sharing platter like a selection of antipasti is the perfect icebreaker, whilst the richness of seared scallops can be offset with a tasty bit of chorizo to get the senses tingling.
A classic surf and turf not only gives you the opportunity to get a little messy again as you de-shell your prawns, but might also be the way to your partner’s heart. The Telegraph recently stated that, “Protein-rich lean red meat boosts level of reward hormone dopamine and norepinephrine, which increases the heart rate,” meaning that steak is likely to set pulses racing even before you’ve reached dessert.
Alternatively, a liberal puddle of chilli beurre blanc with the softest monkfish will set the taste palate alight and trigger a frisson of visceral reactions to the zingy dish.
When it comes to sweet treats, the obvious choice for Valentine’s Day will always be to reach for the chocolate. Here are some of our favourite romance-inspired treats from Pinterest, though, including cake pops, heart-shaped sandwich cookies and strawberry trifles.
If none of that tickles your fancy, you can always try dishes that include artichokes, saffron, oysters, figs or truffles, which also have aphrodisiac qualities. Be sure to offset your delicious banquet with something suitably bubbly, like a South Downs sparkling wine.
Whether you’re dining out or eating in this Valentine’s Day, we hope that Cupid’s arrow strikes just the right note for you and your loved one!