Ask a Chef: What's the best romantic meal?

Ask a Chef: What's the best romantic meal?


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Every week one of the chefs from Harmons Grocery Stores will be answering your toughest culinary questions. No question is too big or too small and each week we'll award a pair of Harmons cooking school passes to one lucky viewer whose question is selected. Email your questions to askachef@harmonsgrocery.com.

This week's question comes from Dan:

"On Valentine's Day I want to skip the restaurant and treat my wife to a delicious meal at home. What are some of your favorite go-to recipes to create a romantic evening?"

There is no better way to show someone you love them than by preparing a beautiful meal. Here are some of our favorite recipes that are sure to create the perfect romantic evening:

Butter Poached Lobster

Ask a Chef: What's the best romantic meal?

Ingredients:2. 4 lobster tails (5-6 oz.)

  1. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  2. 1 shallot, minced
  3. 1 lemon, juiced and zested
  4. 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  5. 1 pound unsalted butter
  6. 1/2 tablespoon salt
  7. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  8. Wooden skewers
Directions:

1. Allow the lobster come to room temperature.
2. Place a wooden skewer through the length of the lobster tail to prevent it from curling.
3. In a medium pot, combine the butter, shallots, thyme, lemon, and garlic. (For a healthy alternative swap the butter for olive oil).
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Warm the butter until it bubbles lightly.
6. Place the lobster into the butter and cook until the interior temperature reaches 135F.
7. Remove the lobster and serve warm.

Finding the best lobster is easy with Harmons Seafood Frenzy taking place at five stores on February 14th. Harmons City Creek, Station Park, Bangerter Crossing, 7th Street and Brickyard will feature massive seafood displays, chefs creating samples and much more. Fresh fish is flown in daily to all Harmons locations, so you can guarantee that you are getting the very best seafood you can find in Utah.

Some delicious side dishes for lobster include asparagus, green beans or grilled vegetables. For your starch, try our Duchesse Potato recipe:

Duchess Potatoes

Ingredients:

  1. 2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes
  2. 6 large egg yolks, at room temperature
  3. 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  4. 1/4 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
  5. 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  6. 1/2 cup Gruyere, finely shredded
Directions:

1. Wash and peel the potatoes, cut them into 1-1/2-inch chunks, and place in a large saucepan. Cover with 1 1/2 to 2 inches of cold water and salt generously.
2. Bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the potatoes can be easily pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes.
3. Drain in a colander. Place potatoes in mixer wih wisk attachment.
4. While the potatoes are still warm, mix in the egg yolks one at a time, stopping and scraping throughout the process.
5. Add the butter, cream, nutmeg and stir until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Transfer to a large piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star piping tip and pipe 12 round mounds onto each prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or edges are brown.
Finally, you can't have a romantic meal without a decadent dessert. For Valentine's Day Harmons has delicious pastries and chocolate dipped strawberries available at all of our stores. If you want to make something from scratch, try this simple recipe:

Four Berry Puffs

Ingredients:


What culinary questions do you have? Let us know! Email our Harmons chefs at askachef@harmonsgrocery.com
Ask a Chef: What's the best romantic meal?

  1. All-purpose flour (for work surface)
  2. 1 sheet puff pastry (1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package)
  3. 1 cup blackberries
  4. 1 cup blueberries
  5. 1 cup raspberries
  6. 1 cup strawberries
  7. 2 tablespoons sugar
  8. 3/4 cup mascarpone cheese
  9. 1 cup whipped cream
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out pastry to a 10-by-12-inch rectangle.
3. Cut pastry with cutter to desried shape and size.
4. Place pastry on a large baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
5. Transfer sheet to oven and bake until pastry is puffed and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
6. Let cool, then split each pastry horizontally.
7. In a bowl, mash berries and sugar with a fork lightly, just until juicy but still chunky.
8. Fold together mascarpone and whipped cream.
9. Spoon on cream mixture on pastry bottoms.
10. Top with berry mixture and pastry tops.
11. Refrigerate until ready to serve

Don't forget to stop by Harmons to check out our massive selection of Valentine's Day gifts. From chocolate and candy, to stunning flowers created locally by our talented floral designers, we have something to fit every taste and budget. Happy Valentine's Day!

Check out other Ask a Harmons Chef articles here.

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