Date Night Inspiration This Valentine’s Day

#2 How to dress your dinner table this Valentine’s Day

Whether you’re showcasing your culinary skills in person this Valentine’s, or you and the girls are having an intimate Zoom dinner date, setting the table is an instant mood lifter. We’re thinking dimmed light, candles, flowers and your best crockery. This isn’t only an experience for your taste buds, we’re pleasing all the senses with our dinner table dressing skills this Valentine’s Day.

#3 Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes

Add a little fun to your date night with a cocktail masterclass. Here’s some simple and delicious cocktail recipes for you to try.

@michelledriscoll

What you’ll need

Lemon drop 

The perfect palette cleanser after your meal.

Ingredients

• 1 table spoon of caster sugar
• Zest of half a lemon
• 50ml of vodka
• 25ml of triple sec
• Handful of ice

Method

• STEP 1

  Put 1 martini glass in the fridge to chill. Mix the white caster sugar with the finely grated zest of the lemon, and set aside.

• STEP 2

  Pour the vodka into a cocktail shaker and add the triple sec, lemon juice and a handful of ice. Shake really well until the outside of the shaker feels cold.

• STEP 3

  Dip the rim of the chilled glass in water, shake off the excess then dip into the sugar and lemon zest mix.

• STEP 4

  Strain the contents of the shaker into your prepared glass and enjoy.

Raspberry Fizz

Add a splash of sophistication to your meal with this champagne-based cocktail.

Ingredients 

• 25ml of raspberry liqueur
• 4 raspberries
• Champagne

Method

• STEP 1

  Put four raspberries in a bowl and crush.

• STEP 2

  Scoop the crushed raspberries into a champagne flute, add the raspberry liqueur, then top with chilled champagne.

Pink Lady

A delicious gin-based cocktail perfect for your Valentine.

Ingredients

• 100ml gin
• 4 tsp grenadine
• 1 large egg
• 2 strips of lemon zest
• Cherry
• Ice

Method

• STEP 1

  Put two coupe or cocktail glasses in the fridge to chill. Pour the gin and grenadine into a cocktail shaker, then fill with ice. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels ice-cold. Strain the mixture into a jug, discarding the ice.

• STEP 2