Valentine’s Day is a big date for restaurants and other venues. Diners want a romantic meal with special ingredients. To impress them, offer unique menu items and create a romantic atmosphere with background music, lighting and fresh roses. Show off your culinary skills with exotic portion cuts and exceed diners’ expectations. Here are two dishes you can include on your menu for Valentine’s Day 2023.
Poultry
Chicken breast is a fantastic romantic portion cut because you can easily tailor the weight it carries. Make it as light or filling as you desire through smart preparation decisions. Any regional flair can easily be applied to chicken simply with the sauce that surrounds it.
Here, we’ll create a light Tuscany-inspired dish that is mouth-wateringly delicious but light enough to leave room for a romantic dessert at the end of the evening. This is also a fantastic choice for lunch-size portions on February 14th.
Chicken Tuscany Ingredients:
- 4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes cut in halves
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- Lemon wedges for sides
First, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add the chicken along with oregano, pepper, and salt. Heat for 8 minutes per side until golden brown, then set aside. Next, add the butter and garlic to the skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Place the tomatoes into the skillet, and finally, the spinach, and continue to heat until the leaves begin to wilt.
Take the time to tie it all together by adding the cream plus parmesan, then bringing the mixture to a simmer, on a low heat now, for about 3 minutes. Now place the chicken into the skillet for final heating for up to 7 minutes on low or medium and serve alongside the lemon wedges.
Simple and delicious, yet sophisticated enough to take center stage on any Valentine’s Day menu, you can be sure everyone will fall in love with this romantic portion-cut-inspired meal.
Steak
Premier steak portion cuts certainly belong on your Valentine’s Day menus, and what better way to feature them than with a classic New York Steak Diane presentation?
For this savory steak, we’ll need the following ingredients:
- 4 beef tenderloin filets
- 1 cup no-salt beef stock
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoon soy sauce
- Kosher salt & ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, 2 minced, 2 crushed
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 scallion, minced
- ¼ cup Cognac
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, Dijon, plus Worcestershire, and whisk thoroughly. Then gently boil the beef stock for 10 minutes in a saucepan until reduced to roughly ½ cup. Next, prepare the filets by pat-drying them with a paper towel, then season each side with salt & pepper. Heat your skillet to medium and carefully add the olive oil & butter until light smoke appears, then cook filets for 2 minutes on one side. Lower the heat, then flip the filets over, adding the thyme and garlic.
The next step is to baste and cook for 2 more minutes and set aside the filets. Leave one tablespoon of oil in the skillet, add the shallots and scallions plus a pinch of salt and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high and add Cognac and simmer for 30 seconds until Cognac has mostly evaporated. Add the Dijon mixture and simmer for 1 minute to thicken, then add the cream and whisk/simmer for 2 minutes, reducing the heat to low and bringing back the filets. Drip the cream mixture over the filets as they heat until they reach 125 degrees center (medium rare) and the mixture thickens.
Finally, use the scallion greens and parsley as a garnish, and don’t forget to include classic mashed potatoes and garlic butter as a side. The presentation of your meals on Valentine’s Day really is important. Go the extra mile and pretty up your dish with some edible flowers to make it even more romantic.
Help Your Guests To Fall In Love With Your Menu This Valentine’s Day
As a venue owner, Valentine’s Day is the perfect chance to impress your guests with both delicious food and a romantic ambiance. Enhance the atmosphere with candles, soft lighting, and romantic music, and add thoughtful touches like chocolates and flowers. Elevate your menu by sourcing high-quality cuts of meat from Northwest Meat Company, including romantic portion cuts and unique options. Create an unforgettable Valentine’s Day experience for your guests.
