The 14th of February is just around the corner, which means many couples across the world are getting ready for Valentine’s Day! For many, Valentine’s Day is one of the most romantic occasions of the year, where couples are able to express their love for one another. Whether you are a romantic, cheesy, or lovey-dovey type, there are many ways to celebrate the day.
Exchanging gifts on Valentine’s Day has become increasingly popular, from personalised cards and gifts to chocolates and flowers, the more thoughtful the better! Here at Cinders, we believe a dinner for two is the perfect way to spend the day. Food is known to bring love and joy, so why not cherish a delicious meal on Valentine’s Day with someone who also brings you love and joy too. A candlelit table, mood lighting, and romantic music, accompanied by tasty and aromatic food – what could be more perfect?
To spice things up this year, moving away from your traditional romantic Italian dinner, we suggest barbecuing your Valentine’s meal, to show your significant other that there is also fire outside of your relationship.
In this blog post, we have created the perfect three-course dinner for you to try this Valentine’s Day. Whether you want to try it at home or are a restaurant owner looking to revamp your menu for the day, these recipes will ensure love is in the air! Even if you’re celebrating the day alone, there is no need to get down in the dumps – you can enjoy some delicious, barbecued food too! Put that microwave meal back in the fridge and cook up a storm this Valentine’s. The recipes we have collated are both mouth-watering and easy to make, so even if you are single, now is the perfect time to give yourself and your tummy some loving too.
The Starter
French onion soup
As we all know, Paris is the city of love, or as the French say ‘ville de l’amour’. However, travelling to France every Valentine’s is not possible for most, so why not bring it home? French onion soup is a fantastic starter to set the mood for your romantic dinner. Not only is this dish simple to cook at home, but it can be made in large quantities to cater for a whole restaurant of people. You might be wondering how the soup is barbecued, and it is all to do with the stock. French onion soup started to become popular in the 18th Century, traditionally made with caramelised onion and beef stock, for a deep and rich flavour. Although you can go and purchase pre-made beef stock, we suggest smoking the beef yourself to really impress your significant other.
This recipe by Napoleon looks amazing! Topped with hot, melted cheese and served with a baguette. Plus, the beef broth is made with beef marrow bones which have been smoked and roasted, to produce a depth of flavours.
Main Course
For the main course, we have recommended two different recipes – barbecued pork or grilled lobster tails. We have tried to pick out dishes which will create the least mess, as no one wants to have a mouth covered with food and hands coated in sticky sauce, especially for those first Valentine’s Day dates!
Barbecued pork
We’re first going to suggest BBQ pork, as you really can’t go wrong with it! Pork is one of the best meats to sizzle on the grill, as the outside becomes slightly crisp whilst the inside remains soft and succulent. Pork is also a very versatile dish that can be accompanied by any side you like, whether that be a side of fries, salad, or roasted vegetables.
We love the look of this royal barbecued pork loin recipe by Jamie Oliver, which is coated in a sticky BBQ sauce that is both sweet and spicy. If you’re catering for a number of guests, you can also barbecue a juicy beef loin too, so there are more options to choose from.
Grilled lobster tails
For those who would like to try something a little fancier this Valentine’s Day, another main course that we recommend is grilled lobster tails. This dish is quite unusual to find on your everyday menu, so now is the time to treat yourself! You can either grill at home or if you’re a chef, this will be a fantastic showstopper dish that will go down a treat.
When barbecued, the inner membrane of the lobster becomes incredibly soft and white, which instantly melts in your mouth. Generally, grilled lobster tails are smothered in a butter and garlic mixture, that adds another element of flavour without overpowering the lobster meat. You can also trial and error different herbs to put in the butter mixture, to see what works best.
For step-by-step instructions on how to grill your lobster, check out this recipe by Café Delites.
Dessert
To keep the barbecue theme running throughout the entire three-course meal, we have selected a dessert which you can cook on the grill!
BBQ banana split
Banana split is a classic dessert that is sweet, delicious, and somewhat healthy – it is the perfect romantic dish to finish your Valentine’s date. To cook the bananas, simply slice them down the middle, wrap in tinfoil and place them on the grill. Once the skins have turned black, they should be done.
Now, it’s time for the toppings! The great thing about banana split is that it can be covered in whatever you would like, making it ideal for those with a sweet tooth. From marshmallows to ice cream and chocolate, there are a number of combinations to try.
We found this recipe by House of BBQ Experts, which coats the banana split in beautiful Italian flavours. Milk chocolate, Amaretto, maple flakes and mini marshmallows, sounds like a dessert lovers’ heaven.
High-quality Barbecue Equipment Manufacturers
Here at Cinders, we manufacture reliable and trustworthy professional grills, that are bound to serve you well this Valentine’s Day. Our barbecue equipment will ensure your dishes are cooked to perfection! If you only require a grill for your Valentine’s event, you can use our local search for barbecue rental services.