What to cook for Valentine’s Day
Tips from Michelin Star Chef Steve Smith
You’ve got the outfit and the gift sorted, but on one of the busiest nights of the year in the restaurant calendar it can often be difficult to get a table for two.
Why not treat your loved one to an intimate home cooked meal this Valentine’s Day? Stuck on what to cook? Don’t worry as Head Chef of Michelin starred Bohemia restaurant, Steve Smith, shares his tips on arranging the perfect Valentine’s dinner date.
1. Drink pink
At Bohemia Bar we serve a variety of Lanique based cocktails. It’s the perfect drink for Valentine’s due to its pink colour and rich and floral taste as it’s made from a secret recipe that uses Attar of Rose! Try a signature serve of Lanique over crushed ice with fresh lime juice, or add it to Champagne or Prosecco for a twist to your fizz.
2. Create ambience
We like to create a sense of occasion at Bohemia so have low-hanging pendant lights suspended over the dining tables, perfectly illuminating our exquisite plates of food. Create ambience with dim lighting, background music playing and using your best cutlery!
3. Don’t forget the nibbles
Plan ahead and don’t forget appetisers to begin the evening. You don’t want to make yourselves too full, but it’s always nice to have a few nibbles on offer.
4. Aphrodisiac dishes
Try to include aphrodisiac dishes such as oysters which are very popular on Valentine’s menus and they pair really well with Champagne. February is the perfect time to serve oysters.
5. Sweet and savoury
Lobsters and chocolate are two items which are instantly thought of when it comes to a Valentine’s dinner so why not try combining the two? At Bohemia we serve Butter Poached Lobster, Cauliflower and White Chocolate, with Sorrel & Caviar.
6. Don’t stress
After a fancy starter try to keep the main course simple but also impressive. Go for pan-fried fish or steak served with a colourful side dish. Remember – presentation is always important.
7. Indulge in chocolate
For Valentine’s, chocolate is a must on a menu as it makes the perfect elegant dinner dessert, especially when served with dessert wine. Simply go with a nice box of chocolates or try your hand at making chocolate mousse or a Black Forest gateau.
Bohemia is the only restaurant in the Channel Islands to be listed in The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants and is ranked at number 49. Bohemia also recently received the highest score in the Channel Islands in the Good Food Guide 2016 with a glowing score of 7, its highest score yet, and was listed as the best restaurant in Jersey in the guide’s ‘Top 50 Restaurants in the UK’.
Bohemia Bar & Restaurant, Green Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 4UH, Channel Islands
For reservations please call: 01534 880 588 or visit www.bohemiajersey.com
