Inspiration for Celebrating Date Night at Home for Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine’s weekend, friends! With days passing slowly, it’s hard to believe it’s already mid-February, isn’t it?
This time last year my husband booked a romantic getaway to the Kenwood Inn & Spa in the Sonoma Valley. We had been keeping an eye on the news and understood it might be our last getaway for awhile with the pandemic on the horizon. In some ways that made the trip all the more special and we savored the little details even more than usual. Little did we know how much ‘home time’ we would all have in the coming year.
Happy Valentine’s weekend, friends! With days passing slowly, it’s hard to believe it’s already mid-February, isn’t it?
This time last year my husband booked a romantic getaway to the Kenwood Inn & Spa in the Sonoma Valley. We had been keeping an eye on the news and understood it might be our last getaway for awhile with the pandemic on the horizon. In some ways that made the trip all the more special and we savored the little details even more than usual. Little did we know how much ‘home time’ we would all have in the coming year. Read about one of our favorite stays in wine country: A Mediterranean Style Getaway to Kenwood Inn & Spa in the Sonoma Valley.
This year, we will be staying home and celebrating with our tradition of ordering a catered dinner from our local favorite in Chico, Bacio Catering. If the weather cooperates we will dine alfresco as we have on previous Valentine’s Days where we lucked out on the weather. A brilliant sunset would be an extra special bonus, especially this year.
A few ideas for Valentine’s Day inspiration:
10 Ideas to Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Home This Year from Town & Country Magazine.
20 of the Best Valentine’s Day Movies Ever Made
Tour Some of the World’s Greatest Landmarks Without Leaving Home
We are looking forward to Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy on CNN (debuting Valentine’s Evening)
Follow Stanley Tucci for mixology inspiration
In whatever way you plan to celebrate this weekend wishing you love, joy, and fun!
Ciao!
Heather
Previous posts on romance travel and date night:
Valentine's Day Eye-Candy Plus Our Favorite Kind of Surprise
With the cold, damp, often drab days of February upon us, I thought it would be fun to share a little Valentine’s Day themed eye-candy to warm us up.
With the cold, damp, often drab days of February upon us, I thought it would be fun to share a little Valentine’s Day themed eye-candy to warm us up.
Anything strike your fancy?
Ready for Valentine’s Day? Hearts, roses, chocolates, bling, a spa day (this has my vote), a movie night, a walk in the park, homemade chocolate chip cookies or a takeout dinner for two at home?
Romantic, kitchy, chill, skip it…..whatever strikes your fancy is what Valentine’s Day should be about.
Valentine’s Day View From Home
For the last several years Mr. C.T. and I have skipped the crowds and celebrated at home with a gourmet take-out dinner from our favorite Bacio Catering here in Chico. Dinner is always delicious and the weather sometimes cooperates for an usually warm al fresco dinner on the terrace.
A fabulous sunset was an extra bonus! More at Valentine’s Evening at Home.
As it turns out we will be changing it up this year. My husband thoughtfully tucked a Valentine’s Day weekend getaway to wine country under the Christmas tree for me. It must be challenging to surprise a travel advisor with a trip, but Mr. C.T. nailed it!
The Kenwood Inn is a charming old-world style spa hotel in the Sonoma Valley wine country and it’s been on my list to experience for many years. We are looking forward to spa treatments, wine tasting, world-class dining plus an ‘aphrodite dinner’ event during our 2-night-stay.
Follow along with us in wine country on Curated Travel Instagram.
By the way, if you are considering a romantic movie or two here are some ideas. Roman Holiday is one of my favorites for obvious Italy based reasons. :)
Do you have any fun plans for Valentine’s Day?
xx
If you are considering giving the gift of travel (or a gift certificate!) contact us at Curated Travel to help make your travel dreams come true.
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The Fine Art of a Romantic Date Night at Home [Thanks to Bacio Catering]
The menu for the Valentine’s Day carry-out dinner was pure deliciousness . I pre-ordered the butternut squash lasagna and Scott ordered the steak medallions with red-wine reduction. Bacio clearly laid out all instructions for heating our meal and it came together in just a few minutes. There was plenty of time to enjoy sips of sparkling wine while preparing our courses.
The Fine Art of a Romantic Date Night at Home
For Valentine's Day last year, Scott had the brilliant idea of bringing home a carry-out dinner for us. It was perfectly romantic to relax at home, without fighting the crowds, and enjoy a gourmet dinner. Flash to this Valentine's Day and we thought it would be fun to collaborate with the talented chef/caterer Amanda Leveroni of Bacio Catering again.
Despite one of the rainiest seasons on record here in Northern California, the weather was unseasonably warm which allowed for another alfresco dinner. I created a colorful table with a runner I purchased in Positano, Italy, last summer. The bold florals accented the lemon motif platter, also from the Amalfi coast. I added the flowers - roses and lilies - Scott brought home the evening before, a few candles and the table was set. Scott and I headed into the kitchen to see what delicious cuisine Amanda had cooked up for us this time.
I asked Amanda about her inspiration for a romantic dinner menu like the one she created for her customers this Valentine's Day and she dished:
"Our inspiration for this dinner? Well, that’s a tricky one. It has to be easy, user-friendly, not too complicated for someone (or 2) to re-heat and figure out. It’s the trick really with all of the items that we offer in the carryout.
When we are at your house or venue, our chefs can make it all magical. When you buy food from our retail location or a special dinner like this, we have to take into account soooooo many factors. Does it re-heat well? How does it present when it’s cold in the case? Ahhhhh! It’s such a hybrid business in the food world.
Our inspiration comes from the beautiful stuff the farmers bring in our back door. We look at what’s beautiful and delicious and build from there. We’re inspired by the many ways that we all think this meal should be shared. Shhhh! It get’s kind of naughty." - Amanda Leveroni
The menu for the Valentine's Day carry-out dinner was pure deliciousness . I pre-ordered the butternut squash lasagna and Scott ordered the steak medallions with red-wine reduction. Bacio clearly laid out all instructions for heating our meal and it came together in just a few minutes. There was plenty of time to enjoy sips of sparkling wine while preparing our courses.
Tasting Notes:
*The cheese board featured just the right balance of cheese, fruit, crackers and nuts. The Point Reyes Toma is always a favorite cheese in our house.
*The Mega Glow Greens included slices of orange, watermelon radish, sweet-spiced nut brittle and golden drops of dressing.
*The butternut squash lasagna, with velvety Grana Padano cheese, was to die for, as was the Niman Ranch beef. We shared bites and were equally pleased with our selections.
*Honey glazed carrots and potatoes infused with garlic thyme browned butter rounded out our entrees.
Bacio catering paired with Tin Roof Bakery for crusty bread and Mim's Bakery for the decadent, creamy chocolate delight that was intensely rich and decadent, so much so that we had some leftover for the next night. Mim's created our wedding cake 16 years ago and that added a special touch for our Valentine's day.
Amanda Leveroni is famous for her fresh, seasonal and flavorful dishes in the north state area and it is always a treat to see what combinations she will put together for a menu. Bacio Catering definitely understands the fine art of a romantic dinner at home.
We are hoping that Bacio Catering will be offering their romantic Valentine's Day Dinner again next year. In the meantime, you can order Bacio Biz Boxes year round or stop by the shop at 1903 Park Avenue to pick up delicious dishes to carry out for lunch or dinner. For more on Amanda's inspiring story of 30 years of fresh, healthy food and community love here.
Our thanks to Amanda Leveroni and the Bacio team for creating a romance inspiring carry out dinner for us. Just as you said, Amanda, there are many ways this kind of delectable meal can be shared. Dining at home can be most romantic, especially with a menu like this one. We agree with you, "Food is Love".
Cheers to you!
Our meal from Bacio Catering was a gift to us.
All opinions are, as always, my own.
Romance inspiring travel at Curated Travel
5 Romantic Places to Dine Like Star-Crossed Lovers - Curated Travel
Let’s face it, sometimes we all need a little inspiration to bring the romance back into life. It’s so easy to let day-to-day stresses zap the life blood out of a relationship. If you are needing a few ideas to enhance a date night, a couple of these romantic places to dine that might just set the stage.
5 Romantic Places to Dine
Let's face it, sometimes we all need a little inspiration to bring the romance back into life. It's so easy to let day-to-day stresses zap the life blood out of a relationship. If you are needing a few ideas to enhance a date night, a couple of these romantic places to dine that might just set the stage.
By the Water
Whether you find a seafront restaurant like this one at Seven Seas Los Cabos, Mexico, or one of your favorite lake view or river view spots, the glow of the sunset over the water will make you dine like starry-eyed lovers. You won't be able to help yourselves!
On a Beach
It may be a beach cabana to celebrate a birthday on vacation, like this one at Secrets Maroma Beach in Riviera Maya, Mexico, or a simple picnic basket at the beach. Having a beach walk after dinner, or even during dinner, adds to the romantic quality of beachside dining.
High on a Mountain Top with an Expansive View
For us, it was this unique family style dining experience high above Positano, at La Tagliata, on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. The views, the ambiance, the family vibe and the FOOD, made this evening unforgettable. That sunset view of Positano was magical and a view always enhances the mood.
On the Rooftop
Take it to the rooftops! I've sung the praises of a rooftop moment several times on this blog. We have found a few favorites over the years, including the Water Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Hudson Hotel in NYC and hotel rooftops in Seville, Barcelona and Lisbon.
Pack a Picnic (or pick one up on the way)
A picnic works equally well for daytime or nighttime. On a sunny Sunday last spring Scott and I headed out for Table Mountain, near our home in Chico. We packed a couple of items and picked up a few things at our favorite healthy takeout place for an easy picnic lunch. We spent the afternoon enjoying the natural beauty of the sunshine, fresh air and springtime blossoms.
At Home
You don't need to go far, your most romantic place to dine could be at home. I know it was for us last Valentine's Day. Rather than fight the crowds and expense of local restaurants, Scott had the idea to order a gourmet dinner from our favorite local caterer, Bacio Catering. Amanda and crew created a swoon-worthy Valentine's Day menu. My only task was to make the table look pretty while Scott plated and presented the multiple courses of our delicious dinner. Dining at home, with such deliciousness, made it a truly relaxed and intimate dining experience. I noticed that Bacio is offering their Valentine's Day Dinner for 2 again this year. Check out the drool-worthy menu. If you live in the north state area, I highly recommend this experience for an utterly romantic Valentine's Day dinner that will have you two acting like star-crossed lovers at home!
Do you have any places that you find especially romantic for dining or date night?
Date Night: Dinner High on the Mountainside in Positano
Our new Italian friend and driver, Davide, recommended a family run trattoria for dinner “high on the mountainside” above Positano. He knew we would love it. We agreed and Davide made all the arrangements. A van filled with several other hungry diners picked us up in front of our hotel and traversed the terraced roadway up, up, up near the top of the mountain.
Our new Italian friend and driver, Davide, recommended a family run trattoria for dinner "high on the mountainside" above Positano. He knew we would love it. We agreed and Davide made all the arrangements. A van filled with several other hungry diners picked us up in front of our hotel and traversed the terraced roadway up, up, up near the top of the mountain.
La Tagliata is a family run establishment started by Don Luigi a charming, generous, hospitable man who was passionate about the land, growing his own produce and creating local dishes. He loved to entertain and feed family and friends around his table. Over time he developed a reputation for fine dishes and Trattoria La Tagliata was born.
According to the website early homemade specialties included:
"Tureens of pasta with beans and pork (cotiche), spaghetti with garlic and crushed chilli peppers, broccoli and homemade sausage, tripe and small delicacies".
We ambled along the stone walkways and we were warmly greeted by the family/staff who make you feel like you have arrived at home.
Ciao!!
The views from La Tagliata are stunning. It's a bit misty, but that is a view of the sea and a boat in the distance.
The menu is prix fixe, and we did not ask the price. After the meal, we feared we might be into it for $200, but it turned out to be an incredible value at 40 euros per person! House wines are of the "bottomless" glass variety and are included in the meal price.
Starting with the cheeses, bread, and antipasto platters; the courses just kept on coming with smooth and friendly precision by the staff.
Scott's notes from the evening include prosciutto, mozzarella, goat cheeses, antipasto, eggplant parmigiano, zucchini flower, charred spinach, broccoli, brown beans and garbanzo beans dishes. The pasta was Mama's secret large ravioli with basil. The meat plate included ribs, shish kabob, veal, chicken, sausages, lamb, rabbit, mixed salad and fried potatoes.
The homemade pasta dishes were simply amazing... Oh pasta, how I had missed you. I'm still not over my summer in Italy infatuation with you. #carbs
Scott is shaking his head at the amount of food being presented to us.
As you can imagine, by the time the dessert/fruit course (mixed fruits and 3 kinds of pastries)! and limoncello arrived, we were beyond stuffed.
Mama makes her entrance at La Tagliata
When Mama made her entrance, 7 courses in, she was met by a cheering crowd. She had been up cooking since 5 am, as usual. You may feel a bit tipsy from the amount of food and bottomless glasses of wine, but a driver awaits to carry you safely back down, down, down the mountainside to your sweet slumber.
If you find yourself in Positano I highly recommend La Tagliata as a must do dining experience. Tell them Davide and Heather sent you! ;)
Ciao!
In the Mood: Dine Al Fresco at Home
Though I've enjoyed elaborate al fresco dining in the past, like this date night at home for Valentine's Day, a simple tapas menu is my favorite. It's easy to put together a platter of olives, nuts, crackers, cheeses, a bottle of chilled sauvignon blanc or rose', some pretty linen napkins and you have a perfect al fresco snack.
Al Fresco Dining
The jet lag has eased up, yet my mind is still a kaleidoscope of images from our summer vacation in Italy and Paris. As I'm sorting through 1,000+ photographs I've decided I'm not going to rush to get a post out immediately. Instead, I need some time to savor and remember the details of each place we stayed. I definitely came away with renewed appreciation for living la dolce vita, and the little luxuries of life, like dining al fresco. This simple alteration of daily planning costs nothing, except perhaps a bit of creativity.
Do you enjoy dining al fresco as I do?
Though I've enjoyed elaborate al fresco dining in the past, like this date night at home for Valentine's Day, a simple tapas menu is my favorite. It's easy to put together a platter of olives, nuts, crackers, cheeses, a bottle of chilled sauvignon blanc or rose', some pretty linen napkins and you have a perfect al fresco snack.
If you don't have an outdoor dining space at home, pack up your favorite nibbles, and a blanket, for an outdoor picnic. While Scott and I were in Siena we stayed in an historic apartment in the city center with no outdoor dining space. We put together a picnic and dined on the stairs of the cathedral with a number of Italian families, tourists, and pigeons, creating a memorable al fresco dining experience in Italy.
With that in mind, I discovered more beautiful inspiration for al fresco dining, from simple to astonishing, on my Pinterest board.
These images run the gambit from simple to swoon-worthy. Read more on the 100 best places to dine al fresco in America according to Open Table.
Do you have any tips for dining al fresco?