Scrap the romantic dates in fancy restaurants for now. These days, it’s a lot safer to stay home. That’s even more true now that new coronavirus variants have reached American shores. Suffice to say, you need to come up with Valentine’s Day date ideas while in quarantine so you can still celebrate your love in the safest way possible.
Valentine’s Day Date At Home
You’re lucky to have the love of your life living under the same roof as you. Some couples haven’t seen each other for quite a while now because of the pandemic. Others don’t get to go on dates as much as before since they’re taking coronavirus safety precautions seriously, which is a good thing really.
For those together at home, one Valentine’s Day date idea you should definitely consider is to just stay put. There’s no need to book a table at your favorite restaurant and risk exposure. You can celebrate V-Day at home where it’s a lot safer. Plus, you guys will be more comfortable since it’s just going to be the two of you.
Of course there’s a romantic aspect to eating at a Michelin-star restaurant but now is really not the time to be spending that much on one date. Unless you’re a Kardashian who can afford a ‘humble party’ on a private island, you shouldn’t be wasting that much money to celebrate a special event.
A simple yet romantic Valentine’s Day date at home should suffice. Plan your stay-at-home date early and thoroughly since you don’t have the luxury of going out for some last-minute preparations.
Prepare Your Own Valentine’s Day Dinner
Perhaps the most important part of your Valentine’s Day date is the food. Make your significant other feel extra special by preparing and cooking everything yourself. It would also be sweet if you both worked together on your meal.
A full course meal will require time and effort aside from a little bit of cooking skills. It includes an appetizer, main dish, and dessert. The fact that you’re willing to make something for your spouse is in itself a great Valentine’s Day present, especially if you haven’t done something like this before.
Decide on what you want to make so you can place your orders for all the ingredients you need as soon as possible. You don’t want to be scrambling for one item on the day of your date.
There are tons of Valentine’s Day dinner ideas you can choose for your main course. For meat lovers, a nice juicy piece of American Wagyu Black Grade Filet Mignon from Snake River Farms will definitely be a hit. A romantic date requires a delectable meal and few are as delectable as a juicy steak cooked the way you want it.
Snake River Farms takes pride in their impressive line-up of high quality meat. The American Wagyu Black Grade Filet Mignon, for one, will make any date as fancy as it could get. Filet mignon, also called tenderloin steak, is best served grilled or pan-fried. If you prefer grilled, try this Easy Grilled Filet Mignon recipe by The Spruce Eats.
Finish your Valentine’s Day dinner with a nice sweet dessert. The Very Fudgy Baby Cake Mix, available from The Prepared Pantry, is great for dessert cakes and cupcakes. The chocolate cake mix is made with gourmet cocoa and packed with pudding and mini chocolate chips. One pack makes a 9 x 13-inch cake or 20 to 24 cupcakes.
A romantic dinner date is not complete without the drink of your choice. Red or white wine is quite popular during such times. Champagne is also a good choice if you prefer some fizz.
Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne is said to be the favorite of Napoleon Bonaparte. Based on this detail alone, the former French Emperor had impeccable taste. His love for champagne has been documented. In fact, he once said, “Champagne! In victory one deserves it, in defeat one needs it!” You’re no emperor for sure but you and your spouse can drink like one.
Watch A Romantic Film
You probably won’t be spending all night chatting over dinner. That’s why you need more Valentine’s Day date ideas to keep the arty going. One such idea is to enjoy a romantic movie. There are plenty of romance movies on Netflix right now.
Enjoy your chosen film with your wine and some snacks. The ArtTownGifts Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Gift includes a 750ml bottle Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Bacon Habanero Bites, Hot Honey Crunch Mix, Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel Sea Salt Square, Walnut Cookies, and Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles.
The gift bundle also includes Nonni’s Bruschetta Italian Toast, Sheila G’s Chocolate Chip Brownie Brittle, Sesame Crackers, Florenci Sugar Cookies, La Spiga Ciokkini Cookies, and Sonoma Jacks Cheese Wedges Garlic & Herb. All these are packed in a wood crate and come with a free gift message.
Attend A Concert
The music industry has been hit badly by the pandemic as live concerts have been prohibited. There are a few places that have since held live concerts but with minimal attendees. Some artists, meanwhile, tried to be creative in order to perform live in front of an audience in the safest way possible. Just look at the recent ‘Flaming Lips ‘space bubble’ concert.
Most, however, has chosen to go virtual. That brings us to one of the possible Valentine’s Day date ideas on this list. Couples who love music can enjoy virtual concerts on V-Day. Some artists pegged to do livestream concerts include crooners Josh Groban and Jim Brickman. Check out the online music events listed on Eventbrite.
Dress Up
Just because you’re doing a stay-at-home date doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bother looking good. Aside from taking a bath and putting on a bit of makeup (for the ladies, of course), you should wear something a tad more formal than your cargo shorts or pajamas.
Ladies who can’t or don’t want to buy a new dress for her Valentine’s Day date can choose to wear her old favorite. There’s nothing wrong with that. Any practical mom wouldn’t want to spend on a brand new dress. Most of them thinks that it’s a waste of money since they’ won’t be wearing it often. It’s also a waste of precious closet space. Just ask Mari Kondo.
But if she wants to surprise her partner, she can rent a dress instead. This is perfect for practical women, especially homestead moms, who prefer to spend their money on necessities rather than luxuries.
At Rent The Runway, you can choose from a wide collection of rentable wardrobes suited for any occasion. The Toluca Dress from Fame & Partners, for example, exudes charm and sexiness with its flattering cut and beautiful bright red color. It shows a lot of skin so if you’re planning on extending your date to the bedroom, this is a good dress to rent. Of course, you must not forget that you have to return it in 4 days so better be careful with it.
Since we’re playing dress up, why not set a theme for this year’s Valentine’s Day date. Wear matching or couple costumes to add more fun to your stay-at-home date. How about dressing up as the star-crossed lovers in Romeo + Juliet or as Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak in Breakfast At Tiffany’s if you want classic chic feels. Plus points if you find similar dog and cat masks from the store scene.
Virtual Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
The COVID-19 pandemic physically shut most of us from the rest of the world. Thanks to technology, however, we can still stay connected despite the distance. Online meetings and virtual classes suddenly became a thing during the past year. Sadly, there’ll be more of the same this 2021.
Have A Zoom Date
For now, you should settle for a virtual date. We’re not talking about online dating but if you’re single and looking for love, then that should be an option. Anyway, you’ll need a laptop or desktop computer and strong internet connection to fully enjoy your virtual Valentine’s Day date. You also need to download Zoom or similar apps so you can see and chat with each other. If you’ve been keeping in touch virtually in the past year, you need to spice things up for your Valentine’s Day date.
Enjoy the Same Valentine’s Day Dinner
Wouldn’t it be sweet if you ate the same thing? Of course, when you’re on a date, you have the option of ordering what you want. But since you’re already miles apart, perhaps having the same Valentine’s Day meal will help give you the illusion that you’re sharing the same table.
Plan your date beforehand. Decide on what you want to eat on your stay-at-home Valentine’s Day date. You can both cook the same meals or order online and have them delivered in your own homes.
We’re not talking pizza or Chinese takeout here. You can order your meals from a restaurant and have them delivered. Another option is to purchase your Valentine’s Day feast from online food delivery services.
Vegans or those wanting to try vegan dishes can book their Valentine’s Day meal from Vegin’ Out. This vegan meal delivery service actually offers weekly and monthly meal plans. If you want to go vegan before and after Valentine’s Day, you should try any of their meal plans.
A Vegin’ Out meal plan usually consists of entree, soup, side dish, and cookies. Add-ons include breakfast, salad dressing and juice. The Vegin’ Out Weekly Vegetarian/Vegan Meal Order, for example, includes 3 entrees, 4 side dishes, soup, and a bag of cookies, all vegan, of course.
To give you an idea o what they offer, this week’s menu consists of entrees Tofu Shakshuka, Cajun Pasta, and Peanut Curry. The side dishes are Broccoli with Romesco, Bayou Cauliflower, Turmeric Rice, and kale with Sundried Tomato Dressing. Also included are their Hearty Veggie Miso soup and Almond Matcha cookies.
If vegan is not your thing, you can have meat dishes delivered to your doorstep instead. Home Bistro is not your ordinary food delivery service. They have more than 50 gourmet meals to choose from. And by gourmet we mean like the ones made by an Iron Chef.
You read that right. Iron Chef Cat Cora shares her culinary skills with us mere mortals through Home Bistro. Her Slow Cooked Brisket, Pan Jus, White Cheddar Mac And Cheese, and Charred Broccoli is one of the best-sellers and it’s easy to understand why. It combines the extravagance of a slow cooked premium meat with the American fave mac an’ cheese. There’s a healthy portion of broccoli for good measure, too.
Another Home Bistro bestseller that’s not a Cat Cora masterpiece is the Lemon-Caper Piccata Steak With Roasted Garlic Marbled Potatoes And Tunisian Cauliflower Gratin. Both dishes come in sealed bags that are can be microwaved or submerged in boiling water for a few minutes.
Listen to the Same Playlist
Music is a vital part of any relationship, particularly for those just starting out. Why so? Music connects people. How many times have you seen people find a connection through their similar taste in music?
We’ve seen it in the 2007 film Once in which Guy (Glen Hansard) and Girl (Marketa Irglova) bond through their mutual love for music. In Garden State, The Shins song “New Slang” became the catalyst for Zach Braff’s and Natalie Portman’s characters’ friendship.
Make a Spotify playlist of all your favorite romantic tunes. Keep it in the background as you enjoy your virtual Valentine’s Day date. Push play at the same time so you’re listening to the songs exactly at the same time. That would be fun, right?
Have Your Valentine’s Day Gift Delivered
If flowers and chocolates are still your thing, you can have them delivered to your girlfriend. There are tons of possible Valentine’s Day gifts aside from this tired combo, though.
A bottle of her favorite wine (or a wine subscription) would be surely appreciated. Being quarantined is no easy thing and many have turned to wine or other poisons as a form of release from the stress. If your lady is one of these people, then a bottle or ten delivered to her doorstep would do.
If your lover is living alone, the best Valentine’s Day gift is perhaps you popping up in front of her door. Let’s be realistic, though. Not everyone can do so. If you can’t visit her, you can at least send her a survival gift that will help keep her safe.
You know your partner best so you know what he or she needs most. It shouldn’t be that hard to get them a Valentine’s Day present.
“Go Out for Coffee”
Do you miss going on coffee dates with your sweetheart? Since you can’t go out for coffee right now, why not send your lover a cup of their favorite drink from their favorite coffee shop. Better yet, gift them a new French press or coffee maker so can they make their own cup of Joe anytime they need a perk-me-up.
The Grosche Milano Stella Aroma Moka Espresso Maker is designed for the true coffee lover. The Italian moka pot makes 4 cups of espresso (they have an 8-cup version) that you can enjoy at home. The Stella Aroma is made of 18/8 stainless steel and can be used on any kind of stovetop.
The gorgeous minimalist look of the Milano Stella Aroma is reminiscent of the kitchenware that Stella produce back in the 1950s. The Stella brand has been around since after the First World War. For it to last this long is a sign that you’re getting a quality product with every purchase.
The Amsterdam Pour Over Coffee Maker, also from Grosche, is another great option for your Valentine’s Day present to your loved one. The best thing about the Amsterdam is its design. Grosche was inspired by the coffee shops of Amsterdam when they designed this elegant pour over coffee maker.
The detachable glass top makes the Amsterdam pretty unique. It features double walled chamber and a reusable stainless steel coffee filter. The carafe, meanwhile, is made of hand-blown heatproof borosilicate glass and comes with a non-slip grip for easier handling.
The Amsterdam can make up to three cups of pour over coffee. Like the Milano Stella Aroma, the Amsterdam is made of 18-8 stainless steel. They’re also both BPA-free and lead-free.
Make sure you also get one for yourself. Just buzz each other if either of you wants to “go out for coffee.” Go online and chat away while preparing and enjoying your coffee in the safety of your own homes. Now that’s a brilliant Valentine’s Day date idea, right?
There is not enough space to discuss all Valentine’s Day date ideas that pops in our heads. If you have a romantic date idea in mind, please do share. Some of us here are dying to try something new for their significant other. Visit Gentleman Pirate Club for more lists such as this.
