Oat and raisin biscuits
Heart to Heart
Thursday February 8th 2007
Treating your loved one on Valentine’s Day does not have to involve eating an expensive meal out in a busy restaurant. “I think it’s much more romantic to cook a really delicious meal at home,” says Nathan Jones. The starting point, of course, for romantic dining is kicking off with chilled champagne to create an effervescent mood.
After that glass of bubbly, the key to your special meal is sourcing prime ingredients, points out Patrick Harbour. “Taking the time to shop at a decent butcher or fishmonger really pays off,” recommends Patrick. “I love the whole experience of shopping at good food shops.”
A seriously good griddled steak, served with a creamy celeriac and potato gratin or golden-brown sauté potatoes, is a great meal for carnivores. For well-hung, prime beef head to a good butcher’s shop, such as James Elliot (96 Essex Road, N1, 020-7226 3658) in Islington, Macken Bros (44 Turnham Green Terrace, W4, 020-8994 2646) in Chiswick or A. Dove (71 Northcote Road, SW11 020-7223 5191) in Battersea.
Venus, the beautiful Goddess of Love rose from the sea and so fish and seafood are traditionally associated with l’amour. Seared scallops, oysters or fresh crab salad are all simple but stunning starters. Stylish fish to serve for a main course range from Dover sole, with its delicate flavour and texture, or fashionable sea bass to fish with a meatier texture, such as tuna or swordfish steaks. Great fishmongers to shop from include Steve Hatt (88-90 Essex Road, N1, 020-7226 3963) in Islington, Moxon’s (Westbury Parade, Nightingale Lane, SW4, 020-8675 2468) in Clapham, Golborne Fisheries, 75 Golborne Road, W10, 020-8960 3100) in Portobello or Linwood (6-7 Grand Avenue, Leadenhall Market, EC3) in the City, with its eye-catching display.
Chocolate - .long thought to be an aphrodisiac –is, of course, the perfect way to round off a dinner a deux. Indulgent chocolate desserts to conjure up range from gloriously gooey, pecan-studded chocolate brownies, served with really good vanilla ice cream or boozy whipped cream or a grown-up, seriously dark chocolate soufflé. Visiting London’s chocolatiers makes for mouth-watering shopping at this time of year. Down in Chelsea, Rococo (321 King’s Road, SW3, 020-7352 5857) - chocolate-makers with a fine eye for the fun and frivolous - features very desirable, richly coloured, hand-painted chocolate hearts. Off Sloane Square, L’Artisan du Chocolat (89 Lower Sloane Street, SW1, 020-7824 8365) offers exquisitely flavoured, dainty ganache-filled chocolate, with flavours such as green cardamom, lavender and red wine. New kid on the block, with witty, creative flavourings is Islington-based Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates (33 Camden Passage, N1, 020-7424 5750). For classic French panache head to the West End to Maison du Chocolat (45-46 Piccadilly, W1 020-7297 8500), an immaculate chocolate boutique, offering elegantly-packaged, luxurious, handmade chocolates – a real treat.
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