Helping the course of love run smoothly
It is estimated that Brits spend a romantically generous £470 million on gifts, cards and dining out on Valentine’s Day – this trend shows no sign of fizzling out.
A romantic meal for two lies very much at the heart of this celebration with 12% of couples having a meal out and 10% enjoying a meal at home.
Avoiding a ‘labour of love’
Preparation is key and with Valentine’s Day falling on a Wednesday, there will be an opportunity across two weekends for people to dine out as well as the popularity on the day itself.
Delivering a beautifully presented Valentine’s meal will be top of every chef’s agenda. The increased footfall of Valentine’s Day diners will lead to busier kitchens and a demand on front of house.
A shared experience
A resurgence of sharing of meals is adding to the intimacy of the meal for two. Restaurants in Glasgow and Edinburgh have been offering tapas style dining with platters to share. Antipasto-style meats and cheeses are now on offer at bars, bistros and brasseries.
Having numerous dishes, chosen together and then shared across the table is encouraging the romantic mood.
Tapas style dishes are popular as the Spanish culture is all about bringing people together to eat and not just about feeding. Dishes placed in the middle of the table encourage sharing and being closer together.
Some Valentine’s menus are offering a range of starters and desserts to intimately split and share, allowing the couple to have a shared experience of flavours and smells.
Why not try our Raspberry fruit Ku-li to provide the perfect finishing touch to a range of sharing desserts including panna cotta, layered pot desserts, crépes or ice cream?
Sources
*Mintel 2016
www.food.list.co.uk