You forgot to make your Valentine’s Day reservations, and now the scramble is on to make an unforgettable dinner. Or, maybe you and your honey prefer to spend the night in. Here are three specialty stores you can visit to create a well-thought-out Valentine’s Day dinner that will impress your loved one — and get you out on the town exploring Edmonton’s specialty food stores.
You could have preordered a charcuterie board, but to show some extra tender loving care, why not make your own board from the deli in Edmonton’s multiple Italian Centre locations? Head over to the counter and ask for these two basic components of a charcuterie board: cheese and meat. A simple deli meat to start with is bresaola, a thinly sliced savoury cut that pairs well with most of its charcuterie pals. As for cheese, aim for something friendly, like Bellavitano, a hard cheese available in many flavours, such as espresso, Merlot, and Tennessee whisky. Add a wedge of soft cheese for variety, such as Chevalier Triple Cream Brie, and a handful of Castelvetrano olives. For the final component of your board, choose your crackers wisely. Choose something a bit more elevated than saltines, but not so sturdy that you can barely bite into it.
Then, over to the produce section grab a few potatoes and to pick out your salad fixings.
For a simple salad that is guaranteed to woo, grab some carrots, hot peppers and garlic. Shred the carrots, slice the peppers and finely mince the garlic. Toss the carrots and peppers into a bowl, then add salt, sugar, vinegar, and Korean pepper flakes to your spice tolerance (cayenne and paprika do just fine, too). In a pan, heat some oil, add your garlic, and once aromatic, pour over the carrots. This salad will add some crunch to your plate, and as it sits in the fridge over the week, it just gets better. Not that it will last that long after you try it.
Head to the Butchery for your main event. A dry-aged steak or a rack of lamb might win you some extra favours. Be sure to add some Sylvan Star unsalted butter to your basket: dollop on baked or boiled potatoes right before serving, along with a kiss of flaky sea salt right before serving will elevate your steak night experience.
Another option for our halal friends is OJ’s Halal Meat and Deli. The staff have exceptional knowledge of meats, and have pre-seasoned options to make your life a little easier. If Mediterranean is your favourite flavour profile, try their Shishtawook breast chicken, with a zesty, spiced yogurt-based marinade that is sure to make your taste buds fall in love.
Remember, the best cut of meat is the one you are most familiar with cooking. And if you’re really unsure, ask the butcher for advice. After all, this is where their passion lies. Both of these spots have extensive knowledge of the meat trade. This way, you can ensure a successful main course and maybe fall for a new protein.
Finally, instead of fussing over making the perfect soufflé, give yourself a well-deserved Cookies Sweet stuffed cookie. Our recommendation: try the Dark Chocolate Chip. Super rich in chocolatey flavour, and the marshmallow fluff adds a creamy balance, especially after heating it up. These desserts are easy to store for a few days and are fantastic when warmed for a few minutes in the microwave, then topped with a scoop of ice cream and your choice of sauce. This should earn you some brownie (cookie?) points.
Away you assemble, grill and bake! It’s not hard! If you want to make this a group project, have your partner be your sous chef. Maybe one of you makes better sides, and the other is a master griller. Share the knowledge and the kitchen, and create some loving memories. And if you really made a mess, take-out can sometimes be the most romantic solution.
