Valentine's Day Menu

And a perfect "date night" recipe (Chocolate Covered Dates!)

Bonjour my friends,

Today let’s celebrate love with an intimate, thoughtful homemade menu. After all, what better way to express love than through food made with care? Many of you requested more special occasion menus in a poll earlier this year, so I thought, what better way to begin than with a romantic Valentine’s Day menu?

Since Valentine’s Day is all about cherishing special moments together, I’ve designed this menu with make-ahead recipes, allowing you to relax and enjoy the evening with your loved one. No last-minute stress—just delicious food and heartfelt connections.

To finish on a sweet note, I’m sharing for paid subscribers one of my favorite simple treats: Chocolate-Covered Nut butter Dates. Whether as a post-dinner indulgence or a thoughtful homemade gift for your Valentine, Galentine, or any loved one, these little delights are sure to impress.

Let’s dive in and make this Valentine’s Day extra special!

To start

• Cheese Gougères. Gougères are bite-size savory puffs made from French choux pastry (pâte à choux) and topped with a fair amount of Gruyère cheese, before baking until golden. They’re crisp, airy and just delicious on their own, with a few nibbles of cheese or with a spread to smear inside, like Salmon Rillettes. Make ahead tip: Bake the Gougères the day prior, let them cool to room temperature and refrigerate them an airtight container. For serving, reheat them on a baking sheet for 5 minutes in an oven at 350°F (180°C). Do not reheat them in a microwave or they will soften and flatten.

• Salmon Rillettes. Made with both poached as well as smoked salmon, my recipe for classic French Salmon Rillettes is easy-to-make, yet elegant and delivers big flavors: a rich smoky taste from the salmon, smoothness from crème fraiche and fresh citrusy notes from lemon, dill and pink peppercorns. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the Rillettes up to 3 days prior and refrigerate in an airtight container. For serving, transfer to a serving bowl right out of the fridge and sprinkle with fresh dill.

Main

• Braised Pork Loin with Prunes. This dish is one of my most cherished recipes from my home region of Brittany. Slow-cooked in white wine, the pork loin absorbs a rich depth of flavor, enhanced by sweet onions and melt-in-your-mouth prunes. The luscious sweet-and-salty sauce has an irresistible, romantic flair, making it a perfect choice for Valentine’s Day. Make-ahead tip: Prepare this dish in advance—either in the morning or the night before. When ready to serve, reheat it on the stovetop over low heat until the pork is warmed through, for about 20 minutes.

• Gratin Dauphinois. In this traditional French gratin, thinly sliced potatoes are baked slowly in creamy milk until utterly tender. It is an easy, affordable and comforting recipe that pairs exceptionally well with pork. Make-ahead tip: Prepare this gratin in advance—either in the morning or the day before. Before serving, re-heat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 20 minutes.

Dessert

• Moelleux Chocolate Cake. Make this decadent and intensely chocolatey cake with just a few ingredients: eggs, sugar, a solid amount of butter and good-quality dark chocolate (no flour!). It combines the richness of chocolate cake with the airiness of a mousse. A must for all chocolate lovers! Make-ahead tip: Make the cake in the morning or the day before, and store it in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving so it comes back to room temperature and softens.

• Chocolate-covered nut butter dates: see the recipe below.