How to create an easy and elegant 3-Course Salmon Dinner Date Night at Home for Valentine’s Day, or any night.
I have friends in the restaurant industry who jokingly consider Valentine’s Day “amateur night,” because some folks will shell out a ridiculous amount of money for the special Valentine’s Day multi-course menu, getting suckered into paying a premium for dinner and wine and having to book reservations weeks or months in advance. I don’t consider it “amateur night” at all, but instead refer to it as “impossible to find a babysitter night.” We’re usually stuck at home, not by choice, but by necessity.
But we don’t let that stop us from having a date night. We just do date night at home!
Valentine’s Day aside, Sean and I enjoy a lot of date nights at home, after the kids have gone to bed. With a little help from the store, and a couple simple recipes, you can enjoy an awesome multi-course meal at home, for V-day or really any chance you can get to enjoy a quiet and elegant meal with your partner.
Cheese Plate
Starting with appetizers. We’re huge fans of cheese plates around here. So when it comes to date night we hit the store for a selection of cheeses and local charcuterie. I always get at least 2-3 different kinds of cheese (a hard cheese, a soft cheese, and something fun like a smoky blue), some spicy salumi or prosciutto, something crunchy (salty Marcona almonds in this case), and something sweet (quince and/or honey).
For the main dish you have several options. But I love salmon for a date night.
Salmon with Sweet and Spicy Glaze
Before owning a grill or smoker I’d make salmon similar to they do in a restaurant; by starting the cook on the stovetop, and then finishing in the oven over broil to crisp up the top. It really is the best way to perfectly cook salmon and create a great crust on the outside, with tender moist meat. But with your grill or smoker, you can create some incredible salmon dishes! No oven needed.
Some of my Favorite Salmon Recipes for the Grill or Smoker:
- Maple Chipotle Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon
- Grilled Salmon with Orange Maple Glaze
- Easy and Tender Smoked Salmon Fillet
For the examples in the pictures, the rest of the dish was prepared simply, with some greens placed over a crispy potato cake. Easy, delicious, and will save you a ton of money by making your dinner date at home.
Dessert
I’m ridiculously indecisive when it comes to choosing a dessert. I want to try everything! The nice thing about making dinner at home is that you CAN have everything. I like to go to the dessert counter at my local market or bakery and choose a few small bites.
Wine for Valentine’s Day Date Night
The best part of date night at home is that you can splurge a little on the wine since you’re saving money by eating at home instead of paying restaurant markups! I like to start with a glass of sparkling (as all good dates should!!). Then move onto a nice Pinot Noir for the salmon. My favorite pairings for our salmon recipes is usually Oregon Pinot Noir. Oregon Pinot Noir and Salmon is a match made in heaven, kind of like peanut butter and jelly! A few of my favorite Oregon Pinot Noir producers include: Stoller Family Estate, Soter Vineyards, Eminent Domain, Cristom, Patricia Green Cellars, The Eyrie Vineyards, Bergström, J. Christopher, and so many more!
For more recipes check out the recipe index.
Catherine says
I love getting a little this and that for dessert, too! Why eat a giant slice of cake when you can share pieces of multiple cupcakes? Or even break truffles in half to share?
Mary says
Exactly!!! 🙂
Marlynn @ UrbanBlissLife says
This salmon looks amazing! I just had the latest vintage of Davis Bynum Chardonnay while in Sonoma and it was soooo incredible. I also love the idea of getting several little bites at a local bakery for dessert…mainly because I can never choose just one 😉 Cheers!
Mary says
That’s exactly how I am. I want to taste everything 😉
And yes, Davis Bynum makes some lovely wines!!
Geoff (Steep Stories) says
Reading this how-to guide to V-Day mealing – while enlightening – made me glad I’m still single. (And I’d totally be one of those amateurs if I weren’t.)
Mary says
😉
Jen says
Great ideas! I always make dinner at home for VD, and just about every other celebration day. Saves money and you get exactly what you want…
swell condition says
That salmon dinner looks soooo good!! I’d much rather stay at home on V Day too, save going out for a night that’s not so busy everywhere!
Vet Leow says
This is totally having restaurant standard food and beautiful dishes in the comforts of your own home without the crazy prices! Thanks for sharing this…
Erin says
What a beautiful delicious looking meal! I am definitely adding that salmon recipe to my list.
kristen says
That salmon looks incredible! And I am so with you on dessert, a little bit of everything!
Rhiannon says
Love the idea of having Valentine’s Dinner at home. We’re actually going to a wine makers dinner at one of my favorite wineries (after an afternoon of rhone-style wines), always love getting pairing inspiration to use at home.
Mary says
Ohhh well that sounds like a pretty amazing Valentine’s dinner too! Have a great time!
Nicole says
This looks wonderful! I always like new fish recipes.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
This looks awesome! I love a great cheese platter. Salmon is our favorite for special dinners too. And how can you go wrong with dessert … especially chocolate.
Elaine says
Yep that would be a perfect romantic dinner!! Yum! I wish my husband liked salmon….
Mary says
Ohh bummer. If it was once alive my husband will eat it. It’s veggies I have to convince him of 😉
Warren @ Blog to Taste says
Dinner at home is always better! It’s more relaxed, personal and special. This salmon looks exquisite by the way. I love the idea of broiling it to create a crispy outer crust. YUM!
Mary says
It truly creates the perfectly crisp on the outside moist on the inside salmon! So good!
Andrea says
My husband would love a salmon dinner. I am going to have to give this a try for sure. Looks amazing
Mary says
Thanks!! 🙂
Frugal Mom of 8 says
This sounds like the perfect Valentines dinner!
Mary says
Thanks! It’s great for Valentine’s Day, or really any date night in 🙂
Keturah says
Yummy! This all looks amazing 🙂 I love a good Pinot noir and that cheese plate looks delicious.
Mary says
Thank you! I keep staring at that cheese plate. I think I need an excuse to make another one. It’s Wednesday! Is that excuse enough???
Chelsie says
That Salmon looks AMAZING! I think a salmon dish is the perfect romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day!
Mary says
Thanks so much! It tastes amazing too 🙂
Jenny says
That’s my kind of meal! Yummy!!! I would love the Salmon recipe.
Michelle says
This is a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing!