7 of the Most Romantic Dinner Ideas for Valentine's Day

Restaurant dining often includes wine pairings, which is an exciting way to savor the flavors of each course. Plan a romantic wine pairing at home, and choose light and crisp sauvignon blanc for first-course salads and gourmet cheeses. For main course chicken, shellfish, or pasta dishes, sip on a richer white wine, such as chardonnay or rosé. And bring on the luscious red fruit of Royal Crest Red for more decadent mains, such as this deeply satisfying pear and gorgonzola lamb chop dish, and rich desserts, like individual chocolate lava cake.

Romance is about seeing and sharing ourselves authentically. “The careful attention to preferences," says Mexican-born chef Pati Jinich, “allows us to focus on someone else's wants and needs." Create a Valentine's dinner that honors your partner's roots and food preferences. We love Chicago chef Joe Flamm's incredible coastal seafood pasta, a dish he created to celebrate his wife's Croatian heritage. Or Jinich's seared tuna steaks in HoneyBell sauce, a spicy, tangy, savory, sticky — and romantic — dish she makes for her husband, Daniel.

If you're considering popping the question this Valentine's Day, no meal is more celebratory than a snow-white lobster tail and thick, juicy steak set side by side. Follow these lobster cooking and eating tips, and try your hand at chef Geoffrey Zakarian's effortless indoor grilled ribeye for an unforgettable night. Or take the pressure off and order an exquisitely prepared surf and turf meal, or just go with the surf. No harm done. No laws broken.

Vital Choice offers the best wild Pacific Northwest salmon. This one-pan recipe is low-maintenance prep and cleanup, too. Quick sear two salmon fillets in a hot cast iron skillet, then create a simple pan sauce that doubles as a side dish for serving in just minutes. This romantic meal idea frees up your evening for snuggling by the fire. We're thinking of an after-dinner nightcap of chocolate truffles and dessert wine.

This spiral-sliced Manchego cheese and pear-stuffed pork tenderloin will impress your date, especially if you're a Valentine's Day newbie in the kitchen. The salty Manchego cheese mingles with sweet pears to give the dish incredible balance. Set the mood even more with an aromatic pear-scented candle and set the table with long-stem roses for the ultimate romantic — yet accessible — home-cooked Valentine's meal.

Mouthwatering, homey dinners, such as this three-cheese mac and cheese, followed by your favorite board game or a special movie night, are comforting Valentine's bliss. Keep the fun, indulgent vibes going by dimming the lights and relishing Love and Romance chocolate-dipped strawberries. Or “spice things up" and go for aphrodisiacal chocolate-dipped jalapeño peppers to celebrate your lasting love!

“You want to sit down and enjoy your partner, not spend the entire night cooking!" Zakarian exclaims. Create a Valentine's vibe that focuses on simplicity, full flavor, and beauty with this recipe for his bold-flavored Chilean sea bass with mint, caper, and olive relish. Pair it with a prepared gourmet side dish, such as scalloped potatoes, and settle in for time well spent together.