Recipes & Tips for a ‘stay at home’ Valentine’s Day

Lauren Bones | 11th February 2018

Valentine’s day is creeping closer and closer! While many of us might want to splash out on a fancy 3 course meal at a luxury restaurant, many of us prefer the intimacy of spending February 14th in the comfort of our own home with our loved one.

 

With the help of Bohemia Restaurant’s Head Pastry Chef Ellen de Jager, as well as some of our favourite booze brands, we have put together 4 tips to creating an indulgent Valentine’s dessert to impress your partner as well as some romantic cocktail recipes. Not only will this save you some cash, but you can also show off your culinary & mixology skills.

  1. Chocolate is the way to a woman’s heart

Sweep your sweetheart off their feet, with some traditionally romantic chocolate covered strawberries. Everyone knows that chocolate is the way to a woman’s heart and it is scientifically proven to release happy hormones! Chocolate dipped strawberries are a simple and easy, but delicious delight. Add a sprinkle of edible glitter (girls LOVE glitter equally as much), chocolate chips or salted caramel bites.

 

  1. Nothing says, ‘I love you’ more than red velvet

Chocolate tends to steal the limelight in the Valentine’s Day dessert recipes, but red velvet is a scrumptious alternative with a hint of cocoa. The ruby red colouring is perfect for Valentine’s Day and red velvet gives you the scope to bake cookies, cakes, brownies and more! Be creative and surprise your other half with a batch of velvety heart-shaped goodies.

  1. A splash of alcohol in your Valentine’s Day sweets

Add a sophisticated grown up twist to your recipe with a dash of spirit, bubbly or wine.  It is the perfect excuse to add your favourite tipple to a delicious dessert. So an easy way to celebrate the holiday of love is with a sweet and boozy dessert.

 

  1. ‘If you like it, then you should put a meringue on it!’

A meringue dessert looks and tastes amazing but doesn’t require chef-like skills. Pop to the supermarket and purchase individual meringue cases and simply crumble the meringue and mix with whipped cream and fresh strawberries to make a traditional English favourite Eton mess. If you are feeling fancier, fill the meringue case with fluffy pink raspberry mousse and top it off with bright red strawberries. With these crunchy and sweet treats, love will certainly be in the air!

If staying in isn’t your cup of tea for the most romantic day of the year, why not check out The Club Hotel & Spa, home to the Bohemia Restaurant? It is the perfect, romantic getaway and is situated within walking distance from some of the island’s most breathtaking beaches.

 

If cocktails are more your thing, Dirty Martini in Manchester have shared the recipe to their exclusive Valentine’s Day cocktail with us, so why not make it at home?

Sultry Kiss recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 30ml Beefeater Gin
  • 20ml Hibiscus Syrup
  • 15ml Licor 43
  • 10ml Fresh lime juice
  • 10ml Egg white
  • 5ml Aperol
  • 1 dash Peychaud Bitters
  • Garnish – Coconut Flour Crusta & Rose Petal:
  • Prep glass first
  • Rim glass with gomme syrup
  • Dip rim in coconut flour to create a thick even edge
  • Set aside and continue to method

Method:

Add all ingredients to Boston tin. Add cubed ice then shake and double strain back into tin. Dry shake, strain into chilled Vitta Coupette (ensure garnish is prepped first)

Add single rose petal in centre of drink. Serve & enjoy!

 

Rose & Raspberry Fizz

Ingredients:

  • 70ml Lambrini Always Original
  • 20ml Gin
  • 15ml Crème de cassis
  • 25ml raspberry syrup
  • 4/5 drops of rose water (from bakery aisle)
  • 25ml lemon juice
  • 1 egg white
  • 3/4 fresh raspberries (optional)
  • 1 rose for petals (optional)

Glass:

  • Collins or Highball

Method:

Shake and strain all ingredients (except the Lambrini) in a cocktail shaker with ice. Gently empty all ingredients and ice into the glass with the lambrini in the bottom already. Garnish with a raspberry and rose petal.

 

Mon Petit Cherie

Ingredients:

  • 15ml lemon juice
  • 125ml Eisberg Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rosé Wine
  • Cherry syrup reduction

For the cherry syrup reduction:

  • 1 tbs cherry jam
  • 1 tbs water
  • Garnish with:
  • Fresh cherries
  • Skewer

Method:

First make the cherry syrup reduction: Add the cherry jam and the water to a small saucepan and mix. Bring it to the boil – stirring constantly until smooth. Allow to cool.

Add the lemon juice, Eisberg Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rosé Wine and the cherry syrup reduction to a glass mixer (keeping a small amount aside to garnish) and shake well.

Strain the mixture into a tall flute glass.

Garnish with cherry syrup soaked fresh cherries on a skewer.