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:
Sure Fire Romance Inspiring Hotels to Ignite Your Spark
There is nothing quite like a romantic, or sexy, hotel to ignite the sparks for a romantic getaway. Several of my favorite destinations can be found in the Romance Collection 2018. Enjoy the visual inspiration to set the scene for a fine little romance.
romance-inspiring-hotels-curated-travel
ROMANCE INSPIRING HOTELS TO IGNITE YOUR SPARK
The holidays are packed away for another year and thoughts are turning towards a new month and the romantic promises of Valentine's Day. I can almost hear the champagne corks popping in anticipation. Can you?
There is nothing quite like a romantic, or sexy, hotel to ignite the sparks for a romantic getaway. Several of my favorite destinations can be found in the Romance Collection 2018. Enjoy the visual inspiration to set the scene for a fine little romance.
I'm pleased to see a number of my favorite destinations and resorts in this collection from Classic Vacations. I am also excited to see some destinations I'm currently booking for my clients. Those lucky honeymooners!
ROMANCE COLLECTION 2018
If you see any destinations that capture your eye, I can make that dream a reality for you.
A few of my favorite romantic destinations:
Tips on Romance:
Throwback Travel: Our Honeymoon in Zihuatanejo
Just yesterday I came across an album of old photographs and was mesmerized by the grainy images, long forgotten, captured between the slightly dusty covers. It was an album of our honeymoon, back at the ‘turn of the century’, in 2000. This was before digital cameras, Facebook check-ins, camera phones, and selfie sticks. It was pure, unadulterated relaxation and romance, just like any honeymoon should be. Due to hurricane season being in full swing in September, we opted for a honeymoon resort on the western coast of Mexico, now known as The Thompson Zihuatanejo.
Honeymoon in Zihuatanejo
Just yesterday I came across an album of old photographs and was mesmerized by the grainy images, long forgotten, captured between the slightly dusty covers. It was an album of our honeymoon, back at the 'turn of the century', in 2000. This was before digital cameras, Facebook check-ins, camera phones, and selfie sticks. It was pure, unadulterated relaxation and romance, just like any honeymoon should be. Due to hurricane season being in full swing in September, we opted for a honeymoon resort on the western coast of Mexico, now known as the Thompson Zihuatanejo.
Bliss, all-inclusive luxury right on the beach.
Playing in the waves
Remembering HIS smile that captured my fancy the first time we met at that conference in San Francisco.
Practicing my mermaid skills in the infinity edged pool.
A reminder that no matter how imperfect we may feel on any given day,
we will look back and remember how easy it was to look this way.
Big beach hair- as usual.
An afternoon at the spa for two - erasing the exhaustion of a move to a new city, an engagement, designing a new build home,
landing a new job, and planning a garden wedding within three months.
One night we caught a taxi to a local restaurant, just up the hill, we had heard about around the pool, Kau-Kan. I will never forget that moment we stepped onto the upper terrace, panoramic views with ethereal music playing in the background. It was pure magic!
La Califfa
It was one of those moments of sensual perfection -- the sights, the sound, the flavors, the scents - that you never want to forget. A honeymoon should be designed to capture those kinds of moments that you reflect on over and over as the years go by.
Memories of a lifetime....
To book: The Thompson Zihuatanejo
or
Contact us at Curated Travel to book your next getaway.
![The Fine Art of a Romantic Date Night at Home [Thanks to Bacio Catering]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a66444d017db2e6975e076e/1525654624707-WLNWLS4ULRCCXZSYDEYV/16585443_1848234005389062_5041528621743734784_n.jpg)
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
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?
