Planning for romantic Valentine day

ROMANTIC ITALIAN DINNER

Valentine's Day is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants, as it seems everybody wants to take that special someone out for the perfect romantic meal. However, being packed into a crowded, noisy restaurant and ordering from a limited menu designed to turn tables over quickly may not be everyone’s idea of romantic. Our idea of romance is a nice home-cooked Italian meal. It shows a lot more thought and effort than phoning in a reservation, and with a few special touches, the ambiance can easily surpass what you would find in most restaurants.

WINE SUGGESTIONS

The centerpiece of our romantic Italian dinner menu is the perfect combination of comfort food and elegance, Ossobuco with Risotto Milanese. Slow-cooked tender veal, served with risotto tinted yellow from saffron, makes for a great presentation. This classic flavor pairing will impress everyone.

For dessert, we suggest a twist on an Italian classic, Zabaglione. Zabaglione is traditional Italian custard made by whipping Marsala wine with sugar and egg yolks, typically served over strawberries. However, it is our opinion that a Valentine's Day dessert should have chocolate in it so we present Chocolate Zabaglione, which is the perfect ending to our romantic Italian dinner.

PLAYLIST OF ROMANTIC ITALIAN SONGS

Ossobuco is a rich, hearty dish, so you would want to serve it with a full-bodied Italian red wine that can stand up to, as well as complement, the flavors of this dish. Wines that would pair well are Italian wine varietals like Amarone, Barolo or Brunello di Montalcino, which are on the higher end of the price spectrum. If you want to spend a little less, you could also get a nice Chianti or Barbera d' Alba at a more reasonable price. Ultimately, though, these are only suggestions. The choice is up to you – the absolute best wine with any meal is always the wine you like best.

source : contadina.com