This Valentine’s Day, do something a little different. Forget the cliché restaurant and chocolates. Instead, impress her with these five date night gift ideas that will make her swoon.
Bring your A-Game to the kitchen
You don’t need to be a chef to have date night cooking success. Just make sure the food is good and you’re willing to learn how to cook it. If you’ve got enough time and you’re willing to teach yourself, then great! But if not, that’s okay too—they’ve got a list of easy recipes here for beginners who want some pointers on what works well for simple Valentine’s Day dinners in bed.
There are also plenty of options for those who are more experienced cooks (or just want an excuse to buy some fancy new gadgets). They’ve included their favorite kitchen tools along with their best uses so that no matter your level of experience in the kitchen, there’s something here for everyone!
Don’t forget dessert
You know, this may seem like the least romantic thing on the list, but it’s essential to have a sweet ending to your evening. Hickory Farms gifting experts say, “Make date night special with a perfectly packaged mix of delicious dessert and food you can both enjoy.”
Let her pick the final course
If you want to be the perfect date night host, let her pick the final course. This is a great opportunity for your partner to pick something that she enjoys but only sometimes gets because cooking it will be easy and quick. She’ll appreciate getting to choose something she loves at home too!
Get creative with the cocktails
- Remember to garnish. Garnishing isn’t just for your grandmother’s birthday party—it can be the highlight of any cocktail. And it doesn’t have to be anything fancy, either. You can take a few minutes before your date and add an orange slice, lemon wedge or pickled onion on top of your drink before you put it in the fridge. The next day when it’s time for her to drink, she’ll be surprised by how nice everything looks!
- Don’t forget ice cubes and straws too! If you’re making a special drink like a mojito or mint julep, don’t forget that these drinks need crushed ice instead of regular cubes (especially if they’re being served in highball glasses). As for straws? All right—maybe you should get one more than usual because it will probably help prevent spills while the two of you are enjoying each other’s company at home over dinner later on tonight.
Make it a meal to remember (or don’t)
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. This is your chance to show her how much you care about making the experience special for her, and that doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect. It’s all about being yourself and showing it in every aspect of your life—your cooking included!
Make sure you don’t worry about what other people think. You’re not going on the stage here; no one cares if your presentation is slightly unhinged or if some little things need to be added to the table setting. Just go with it!
Now that you know some of the best date night gift ideas to cook her mind, what are you waiting for? Go out and find something that will make her happy, so she can keep cooking for years to come!