Valentine's Day

It's here: the dead of winter. And although spring might be just a few weeks

away, we in  Colorado know that the really bad stuff won't start falling

until March. Luckily someone realized that this bleak month needed a 

little perking up and invented Valentine's Day Thank goodness, 'cause 

President's Day is just not exciting enough to carry me through this dark month. 

For those wishing to mark that day of love with a meal that might lead 

to some serious romance later in the evening, let me offer up my own 

suggestion for a menu that will ignite the romance fire, but not, ahem, kill it. 

First, the course that sets the tone for the evening - the the avocado

salad. Find a perfectly ripe avocado. And then go and splurge on the 

best bottle of olive oil you can afford. Ditto for balsamic vinegar. True

balsamic is probably out of most people's budget (it certainly is 

mine!) and runs anywhere from $500-$1,000 for a small vial.

But you can get some very decent approximations; the Peppercorn in

Boulder has a wonderful selection of fine olive oils and balsamic vinegars. 

To make the avocado salad, simply cut the avocado in half and remove 

the pit with one swift whack of the knife to the pit and pull up, removing the 

pit in one full motion. In the indentions left by the pit, pour in a little

olive oil and a tiny circle of balsamic vinegar - together, enough to 

fill to the top of the brim of the avocado. Grind fresh black pepper and 

coarse sea salt over the top. Serve with a teaspoon. Now, sit back and watch 

your mate swoon as they dip their spoon into the soft, succulent flesh of 

the avocado while the olive oil and balsamic dance alongside. The decadence 

of eating an entire half of an avocado and nothing else for a salad should

definitely set the tone for the evening. This also makes an impressive 

first course for a fancy dinner party.

After the avocado, prepare a plate full of tasty, but simple, nibbles. 

My list of favorites involve two really good cheeses, like an Italian 

Taleggio and a English well-aged cheddar, but truly anything works.

I include on my tray some fresh figs, freshly roasted walnuts or almonds

in nothing but a little olive oil and salt, grapes, olives, roasted red peppers and a 

loaf of really good bread. Take your time to just enjoy the food, savoring each

small bite. In the morning put the cheese out to come to room temperature and allow

all the flavors to come out. 

For dessert the temptation at Valentine's Day is to either buy

chocolate-dipped strawberries or a big box of chocolates. Don't. Both 

are usually mediocre at best. Strawberries used for dipping are 

purposefully overgrown so they have zero flavor left, and in addition

they're dipped in really low-grade chocolate most of the time. The big

shiny Valentine's boxes are perfect for the kids, but not for your significant

other. So instead, why not go to your favorite chocolate shop or high-end

grocery store and buy just a morsel of chocolate to share with your beloved

over a bottle of champagne. The new recreational cooking school in downtown, 

Mise En Place, has a wonderful assortment of Wen Chocolates –  just voted one

of the top ten chocolatiers in the United States (www.miseenplaceschool.com).

If you can find some organic raspberries, they might be a good accompaniment,

but chances are in February they're also going to be grown in Mexico and not full

of taste. 

The next suggestion is to refrain from enjoying these savory bites until the

children are in bed, the tv is off, and you and your mate are sitting in a

room filled with good music, a fire and some candles. My guess is that your

evening be more enjoyable than getting dressed up, finding and arranging a

babysitter, driving in the chilly night, hunting for a parking space,

and then sitting down in a crowded restaurant that is going a bit overboard 

with its Valentine's theme. Not only will you savor each of these nibbles, but chances are it will be

a little more magical and a lot less stressful. Plus, with the exception of the high-fat content of the

cheese (at least it’s loaded with calcium), you’ll feel good eating low on the food chain, but high

on the quality of the food all in the comfort of your own home. Ahhh...