A gentleman’s spin on “Netflix and Chill”

“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” – Robert Frost.

Gentlemen, Valentine’s day is upon us which means we must strive to wow our significant others once again.

To many, the classic dinner and a show may seem fitting for this warm day in a month filled with coldness. Although, there may be those of you who would like to dazzle your date with something more intimate and personal; to these individuals I say cheers, you are about to create a night to remember.

With this step by step guide, your sure to create quite the memorable experience right in your own home.

Step 1: Cleanliness is the virtue of kings.

You could make the most delectable foods and be the most interesting person who ever walked the earth, though not having taken the time to groom yourself and tidy your abode can, for obvious reasons, diminish the overall atmosphere of the evening you’ve so carefully constructed.

The day before Valentines, a gentleman should strive to made his living quarters presentable and inviting. Set up a bouquet of your loves’ favourite flowers, get rid of the smelly socks by the dresser, and give your floors a once over. You’ll be amazed as to how quickly simple chores go by if set to the right music; do yourself a favour and rock out while you clean.

Give yourself some extra time the morning of to groom and shave. Just before your date arrives, take 5 minutes to do any touch ups, like reapplying cologne or tackling the infamous five o’ clock shadow.

Step 2: Prepping your evening.

Setting the table is like creating a beautiful frame for your picture, which is in this case, your hand-crafted meal. Therefore, don’t forget to put some thought and effort into it. Clean the tablecloth, find some plates, cutlery (do not have mismatched cutlery on the table), and place mats that compliment each other.

A man who can cook is worth his weight in gold.

A simple home cooked meal will always set an impression. In this step, I will give some tips as to what you can do to make something delicious on a budget; even if you aren’t a red seal chef.

Step: 3: The perfect appetizers.

Appetizers can be as simple as a tapas platter. Ask your deli for suggestions for cheeses, fruits, and meats. My short list would include chorizo sausage, Serrano ham, Havarti cheese, Applewood smoked cheddar, grapes, melon, and strawberries.

Serve with a mellow wine.

Step 4: Main course.

Italian food is, like French cuisine, associated around the world with romance and passion. I could teach you how to make a pasta dish entirely by scratch, but let’s keep it simple for now.

One of the most important things to know about cooking is that, for one, a well stocked spice rack can take a bland and drab dish to amazing new heights. Second, one can save money on the basic ingredients so long as one acquires a high quality main ingredient.

I suggest making a classic spaghetti dish with tomato sauce and strips of sirloin; you may substitute the beef for another meat or a vegetable medley if you wish. Just remember to pair wines accordingly. The rule of thumb is red with red and white with white.

Be sure to get lean meat and please get a high quality pasta. As mentioned above, having exceptional main ingredients can make quite the difference in the culinary experience.

A tip for the pasta sauce, add a few drops of Cholula hot sauce and some freshly chopped Italian herbs to bring life and personality to your dish.

Another quick note, ask your date about any allergens and adjust accordingly. If you feel confident, suggest to cook dinner together; collaborating in the kitchen can be a very rewarding experience.

Playlist suggestions for dinner:

No Diggity by Chet Faker
Lost Without You by Robin Thicke
Painter by Norah Jones

Step 5: Desserts to get ready for the next step.

A sweet treat to accompany a movie after dinner can be quite simple and elegant. A glass of sparkling wine filled with red berries is wonderful to wind down with.
For those of you with more of a sweet tooth, I would suggest getting a tiramisu cake from your local bakery. If you haven’t had the pleasure before, get ready to have your mouth celebrate with joy.

Step 6: After dinner entertainment.

This could be interpreted in a few ways, depending on how your evening is going and how well you and your date know one another. For the sake of decency, allow me to suggest a few good movies.

Focus (2015)
Starring: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Rodrigo Santoro.

Train Wreck (2015)
Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Tilda Swinton

– Your Pick –

In order to keep you in control of your night, I will leave the third movie up to you. I encourage you to let your date pick from the three because choice is something coveted, and it will show that you care about the opinion of your companion.

Step 7: Sealed with a …

This part is all up to you and your date.

I’d like to give special thanks to Anthony Sherrington for his assistance in making the meal I prepared for this article the best it could be, a true gentleman indeed.

That’s all for now, may you have an enchanting Valentines, and for heaven’s sake, stay gallant good sirs.

Crater Gentleman

The Crater Gentleman is a modern day renaissance man who enjoys gourmet cooking, brilliant music, and fine arts. He can dress to the nines with exotic tie knots or dress down for a night out while still making a statement. As a knower of etiquette and presentation, he believes that small gestures of gallantry may go a long way in making our presence on this earth just a bit more liveable. Sit back, turn on some chill music, and pour yourself a glass as he shares his wisdom.

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