Valentine''s Dinners?

[Mara]

what is everyone doing for dinner on valentines day? staying in? eating out? anywhere special? what's on the menu?

we decided to stay in this year since we go out to eat enough and what's the point of braving higher rates and fighting for a ressie when we could just stay home and relax...

so i am making us cheese fondue (gruyere and emmentaler with LOTS of garlic!), lobster tails with citrus butter, and chocolate fondue (dark bittersweet with kahlua!)...i went to whole foods today and got all the makings and it all looked so good i can't wait to gobble it all up tomorrow night!! i'm such a foodie.

 

[Agape]

That is a great idea! My husband is not found of the restaurant crowds on Valentines Day. However, it is my birthday too, so, in my opinion, people should make way for us right? LOL! It never happens. Your idea is great though, so much more romantic.....espeially if I can get him to do all the stuff....after all it IS my birthday! LOL

 

[princessv]

Agape I know what you mean..my birthday is coming up soon too!

For V-Day, I''m going to see Tyler at his school and he''s taking me to Chick-Fil-A (haha no crowd there plus my absolute fave fast food!) but we''re seriously doing the V-Day thing on Wednesday night at my place..I''m going to make baked salmon (I was going to make chicken cordon bleu from scratch but realized I couldn''t get all the ingredients here) and risotto.

We''re not going out to eat 1) because of the crowds 2) because for my birthday/re-proposal with the new e-ring reset he wants to go to a nice restaurant 2 1/2 hours away.

Mara, you made me drool with your post! (I wish I had a fondue set!)

 

[XChick03]

Sounds nice, Mara! And Happy Birthday Agape!

We probably would''ve opted to stay in and cook a romantic dinner, but since we just moved away from our hometown, Charleston, and the 15th is his B-day, we''re we''re going to do the touristy stuff in Charleston, have dinner, and get a room for the night. Then, we can spend the next day at my parents and then at his. And hopefully Wednesday night I''ll be posting pics of my e-ring.

 

[Mara]

Happy Birthday Agape! It's one of my best friends' birthday tomorrow as well...!

We actually have two fondue sets but I make the stuff first in the double broiler and then when it's done I put it into the fondue set and light the candle to keep it warm, these are like the little 'warmer' fondue sets so they are great for the serving/keeping warm part but not the actual melting/cooking part.

We absolutely LOVE fondue, typically would prefer going out and eating it, but desperate non-reservation-getting times call for desperate fondue measures!!

And actually when we tried it before, it worked out almost like the 'real thing' at the restaurants. Plus I really wanted to try the lobster tails with citrus butter recipe I found, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Charleston sounds fun too Xchick...and an e-ring sounds even better!

Princess I assume we'll see more pictures of the ring after the official reproposal???

 

[Agape]

Date: 2/13/2006 11:15:49 PM
Author: Princess V
Agape I know what you mean..my birthday is coming up soon too!

For V-Day, I''m going to see Tyler at his school and he''s taking me to Chick-Fil-A (haha no crowd there plus my absolute fave fast food!) but we''re seriously doing the V-Day thing on Wednesday night at my place..I''m going to make baked salmon (I was going to make chicken cordon bleu from scratch but realized I couldn''t get all the ingredients here) and risotto.

We''re not going out to eat 1) because of the crowds 2) because for my birthday/re-proposal with the new e-ring reset he wants to go to a nice restaurant 2 1/2 hours away.

Mara, you made me drool with your post! (I wish I had a fondue set!)

You know, I just got a new wedding set too, so maybe we will steal your idea (hope you do not mind) and go somewhere really great this weekend, to celebrate the new rings/committment stuff/birthday/chill out time! . I LOVE the Melting pot, speaking of Fondue!

 

[Kaleigh]

We are staying in too. I am making Chicken Piccata, rice and asparagas. We will have chocolate covered strawberries for desert. But Mara's wins. That fondue and lobster tails sounds soooo yummy. I am so happy to eat real food, I was sick all last week with the flu and a migraine. So I am making up for it big time!!!

 

[XChick03]

Glad you''re feeling better Kaleigh.

You know, I am ashamed to admit I have never had fondue.

I''ve always wanted to try it, but somehow never got around to it. I hear its delicious though.

 

[larussel03]

FI and I are taking a class at Harvard, so we''re stuck tomorrow ngiht there from 7:30 till 9:30. How much does that stink?? So much for Vday! I''m not much into making up for a holiday later, so we''ll see if he picks up the slack. If not, then I dont really care, Vday on a Tuesday doesnt feel like Vday to me at all. If it were thurs-sun then I''d prob care more.

our romantic night will prob be:
going to work
meeting up at my work
getting subs
heading to class
coming home
going to bed

 

[leeenie]

Date: 2/13/2006 11:07:47 PM
Author:Mara

so i am making us cheese fondue (gruyere and emmentaler with LOTS of garlic!), lobster tails with citrus butter, and chocolate fondue (dark bittersweet with kahlua!)...i went to whole foods today and got all the makings and it all looked so good i can''t wait to gobble it all up tomorrow night!! i''m such a foodie.

That sounds SO GOOD. I have never had cheese fondue but I know that I would love it because I love cheese and gooey things. Not to mention chocolate fondue!!! I get like that too - I''ll go to the store to buy a bunch of stuff and then want to eat everything then because it looks good!

 

[sunkist]

Date: 2/13/2006 11:24:32 PM
Author: Mara

Plus I really wanted to try the lobster tails with citrus butter recipe I found, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Hey, Mara, would you mind sharing that lobster and citrus butter recipe ?!!? It sounds delicious! For Valentines I''m sort of trying to re-create our Mexico trip from last month because we both miss it soooo much and wish we could go back! I was trying to think of what we could cook for dinner, and lobster is a perfect idea! We ate so much lobster in Mexico

 

[FireGoddess]

We had our Valentine''s dinner tonight, since DH typically has to pull a shift for Vday. We went to Lavanda Restaurant in Palo Alto. Yummy, not crowded, no waiting for a table...it was great!! Tomorrow I''m going out with a single girlfriend.

 

[orangevixen]

mara - i''m jealous... my seafood allergies actually started on our honeymoon 2 years ago! i can never have lobster again

, but it sounds fabulous!

happy b-day agape!

x-chick... hope you get your ring!

firegoddess...i love Lavanda. it''s one of my faves.

everyone else... happy v-day!!!

 

[qtiekiki]

Happy Birthday, Agape and any other love childs. My "grandpa"''s birthday is tomorrow too (he is actually the husband of my ex-coworker; they are a sweet old couple that treat me and my sister like grandkids, so we call them our adopted grandparents). I sent them some Godiva chocolates for Vday and his birthday.

I don''t know what we are doing for Vday dinner yet. Last few years we''ve been going to little local restaurants instead of fancy ones because we don''t want to fight the crowds. So maybe we will be doing the same thing? A nice relaxing dinner would be nice since I have a job interview tomorrow at 1:30pm. Hopefully it will be a great day for me.

 

[Mara]

Oh I love Lavanda too, maybe we should have a BayArea gathering there!!

Here is the Lobster tails with citrus butter recipe, I got it from About.Com...it sounds fairly easy which is what I like! When Greg came home tonite I showed him the big hunk of bittersweet chocolate that I bought earlier for the chocolate fondue, and his eyes almost popped out of his head!!

Tomorrow night will be fun!

Oh and my sweet husband brought me home flowers tonite, 24 roses, two varieties and 2 balloons...he done good!

Rock Lobster Tails with Citrus Butter
From Diana Rattray, Your Guide to Southern U.S. Cuisine.

INGREDIENTS:
4 frozen rock lobster tails, about 6 to 8 ounces each, butterflied
1/4 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash ground ginger
dash paprika
lemon wedges

PREPARATION:
Place thawed lobster tails on broiler pan, shell side down. Combine butter, lemon juice, orange peel, salt, ginger and paprika. Brush over lobster tail meat. Broil rock lobster tails 6 to 8 minutes from heat for about 15 minutes, or until done (or, bake as package directs). Watch to make sure they don't burn. Meat should be opaque and flake easily. Loosen meat from shell slightly; serve rock lobster tails with lemon wedges. Makes rock lobster tails for 4.

 

[DonaBella]

Well, V-Day and Mother''s Day are two of the biggest holidays for florists and one of our local businesses is a flower shop, so that is where I will be until about 5 or 6pm, then my hubby and I will go out to dinner at a fave restaurant that we like to go to in Corona called TB Scott''s. They aren''t huge, but they have a steady crowd and the food is exceptional. There is dancing afterwards as well for V-Day, but I might be too tired after delivering flowers all day

to dance...well, maybe one or two dances...It is also our 25th wedding anniversary so we need to celebrate a little and then on the 21st, we leave for the Carribean to REALLY celebrate.

Back when we married, we had no money or time away from college to go on a real honeymoon so this will count for that as well...

Being a florist can be really tough, but it also can be really rewarding, making people happy with plants or flowers or a gourmet basket can be really cool...

I also have prepared some Valentine bags and letters(yet to finish...yes, I know how late it is, but I have been home for just 45 minutes and am catching up on emails and such...) for my kids. All 9 of them and my future DIL will get a little goodie and some sweet words to boot...It''s something I like to do since this holiday is usually spent alone for us at dinner...It is good for the kids..

 

[princessv]

Date: 2/13/2006 11:27:38 PM
Author: Agape
You know, I just got a new wedding set too, so maybe we will steal your idea (hope you do not mind) and go somewhere really great this weekend, to celebrate the new rings/committment stuff/birthday/chill out time! . I LOVE the Melting pot, speaking of Fondue!

Of course not! I''m going to be embarassed though because I definitely wanted and had a private proposal so this time around he gets to do things his way which includes a proposal at a restaurant LOL

Celebrate away! We have to break in the new rings!

 

[Odilia]

{{{so i am making us cheese fondue (gruyere and emmentaler with LOTS of garlic!), lobster tails with citrus butter, and chocolate fondue (dark bittersweet with kahlua!)...i went to whole foods today and got all the makings and it all looked so good i can''t wait to gobble it all up tomorrow night!! i''m such a foodie.}}}

I wasn''t sure what we were doing but now I think we''ll head on over to Mara''s house for dinner!!

(My DH usually likes to surprise me, but then I don''t know whether to cook or not...)

 

[njc]

Happy birthday to everyone that has birthdays today and tomorrow!

We always stay in for dinner and take turns cooking. No point in fighting the crowds and its a little cheaper! This year is DHs turn and he went to the store last night... nice big filets broiled with some Montreal Seasoning, spinach salad and tiramisu for dessert.

Mara - Fondue sounds like a great starter... maybe i will give it a try!

 

[eks6426]

We''re actually going out to a local fondue restaurant that neither of us have ever tried. Then I got my husband a fondue set so we can do it at home ala Mara in the future. I actually like the buzz of the nice restaurants on Valentine''s Day. Around here the nice restaurants are actually not very busy (read empty) unless it''s a special day or local event.

Once I went out the day before Valentine''s Day in Chicago and the restaurant was completely deserted. There was only one other table filled beside mine and it was really pretty eerie. I vowed never to do that again.

 

[mrssalvo]

We're going out to dinner with my sister and her hubby. We have a local mexican restaurant that is so yummy and off the beaten path so I don't think we'll have too much trouble getting a table. Not very romantic but fun

.

 

[AsscherGirl]

I mentioned this in another thread, but the fi & I are going to White Castle this Valentine''s Day. We''re going with our best friends (the girl whose split shank ring I posted for those who are really paying attention).

White Castle does this yearly thing in selected locations where they have waited service & you have to make reservations. We''ve spent many a Valentine''s Day waiting to eat at various restaurants - this should be a nice change!

Mara,
Your fondue filled evening has inspired me to come up with a fabulous dessert for post-White Castle. Hmmmmm, maybe I will make mini-molten lava cakes

.

 

[hlmr]

Date: 2/13/2006 11:07:47 PM
Author:Mara
what is everyone doing for dinner on valentines day? staying in? eating out? anywhere special? what''s on the menu?

we decided to stay in this year since we go out to eat enough and what''s the point of braving higher rates and fighting for a ressie when we could just stay home and relax...

so i am making us cheese fondue (gruyere and emmentaler with LOTS of garlic!), lobster tails with citrus butter, and chocolate fondue (dark bittersweet with kahlua!)...i went to whole foods today and got all the makings and it all looked so good i can''t wait to gobble it all up tomorrow night!! i''m such a foodie.

That sounds sooooo yummy Mara!!!

We are going to our fav seafood restaurant for dinner. I made reservations a couple of weeks ago as it fills up fast! They make the most delicious seafood pastas there - I can''t wait!!

Happy Valentine''s Day to everyone!

Heather

 

[diamondlil]

Yummmm, fondu. Yummmm, lobster. This is making me hungry.

We're definitely staying in.

Busy schedule tonight with kids' orthodontic appt. and evening activities for both, so we'll be eating between running them around. A roasted chicken from Giant, rice, grilled asparagus (this is my husband's specialty), and bag-o-salad will have to do.

ETA: I made choc. chip cookies on Sunday, so unless I eat them all today

, there may be a few leftover for dessert tonight.

 

[pebbles]

We''re staying in but I''m not making anything as exquisite as fondue. I think I''m going to make fajitas and chicken tortilla soup, which is one of my husband''s favorite dinners. He''s actually Irish so it''s kind of funny that his favorite food is Mexican.

 

[Strawdermangrl]

uh Mara- gonna be in Santa Cruz in a week- wanna teach me how to cook? If we were staying in, I would whip up a nice " grill du Cheese and some free of fat lays chips"

Perhaps followed by break apart cookies.

Wow. I really am Martha Stewart.....

 

[fire&ice]

Staying in as we will be eating out the rest of the week & then some. Not sure what we will have. Lobster tails sound devine - but I''ve yet to have a good one. So, no more tries for me.

As far as fondue - we usually use it for main course. We have switched to electric pots. They are sooooo much easier to regulate & less fire worries.

....ummm... starting to get hungry!

Happy Valentine''s Day to everyone! Here''s hoping to a few sparklies for presents!

 

[anchor31]

My dear boyfriend and I can''t see each other today as we''re 300 miles from each other right now...

But I''m going on home for Spring Break on the 24th, and he says he''s take me out for dinner then. And then on the 25th we''ll spend the day ring shopping!

 

[ChargerGrrl]

**sigh** I too am in class tonite. I''m hoping that the professor will let us out early, though!

Campus is near my FI''s house, so I usually go over there after class. Tonight, he''s gonna have some champagne, chocolate-covered truffles, and strawberries ready for when I get there. YUM!

Wishing everyone a happy and romantic Valentine''s Day!

 

[miyabi_na]

I have class tonight too

I''m betting that most of my class won''t show up though....I hope! I''d like to have time to celebrate Vday with my bf n''all....
I plan to leave a little early anyway if he doesn''t plan on letting us out

I have a dinner date!!!