09.02.12
Home really is where the heart is this Valentine's Day
Dining in at home is top option for couples this year
Brits will be celebrating Valentine's Day with a home-cooked dinner á
deux as Waitrose research reveals that over 70% of couples will be staying
in this year.
And its not just the ladies who are going to be doing all the cooking this
year, as 50% of men consider themselves to be the next Heston and plan to
cook a meal to romance their partner. But these lucky ladies won't be getting
a slap up three course dinner from their man, as over 55% of them will only
be receiving a one course wonder.
Brits will certainly be putting a lot of love and attention into creating
the perfect Valentine's menu though, with over 80% cooking the meal from
scratch.
Foods considered to be an aphrodisiac will feature high on the menu with
couples tucking into asparagus (51%), chocolate (57%), oysters (48%) and
strawberries (48%).
The top tipple of choice is traditional red or white wine to match their
chosen dishes. Sparking wine followed by champagne were the next most popular
drinks to be served on the 14th February.
And the meal that is considered the most romantic on Valentine's Day with
over a quarter of votes is a juicy steak. Italian dishes, especially pasta,
are considered the next best option for those feeling amorous, and burgers,
perhaps unsurprisingly, were least popular. Less than 1% would choose one
to get them in the loving mood.
Waitrose Executive Chef Jonathan Moore says 'It's great to hear that most
people will be in the kitchen this Valentines' cooking up a storm to impress
their loved one. Cooking is a great way to show someone how much you care,
and the effort of preparing a dish from scratch is very romantic. It doesn't
matter if it's a simple pasta dish, or a fancy three course meal - the sentiment
is just the same.'