I have already begun thinking about tablesettings for our Valentine's Day dinner. Something romantic, candlelit and feminine is how love translates in my mind, particularly at a tablesetting. Sweet. Simple.
So, I took my table for a test drive this morning (left) and started with one of the most serious antiques I own. It's an Italian-made tablerunner from the early 1800's that I purchased from a museum. They didn't collect textiles, so they put the bequeathed beauty up for sale, and I swooned over the handsewn silk and velvet creation in the most alluring shades of dusty rose.
Simple white china with gold edging is topped by a floral patterned china. I've added the sweetest butterfly napkins to complete the placesetting. A really old silver bowl holds dried rose buds and candles complete the look. Truly effortless. I believe this may be the one.
But, hold on. I've found some other looks that may be worth considering, too.
If it's a cold evening, maybe I should consider a cozy fireside setting like the one above (left) via iFood TV. But, if warm weather is forecast, setting a table for two on the patio might turn out as lovely as the image above (right) from Anchorage Daily News.
I'm not really a traditional red heart kind of girl, but this placesetting from Pepper Design is adorable.
For me, there are five must-haves to make Valentine's Day a rousing success:
1. A loved one
2. Flowers
3. Chocolate
4. Champagne or Sparkling Wine
5. Superbly prepared meal
Let's jump directly to Number 4. If you can afford a good bottle of French champagne (there truly is no other), then absolutely do it. But, if the wallet is a bit slim (and I'm all for saving when I can), why not buy a perfectly good sparkling wine. My favs are:
Risque is a "vin vivant" (lively wine) with what The Wine Enthusiast describes as "a crisp and fruity sparkling wine with low alcohol (6%) and the taste of fresh green apples and pears. Softly effervescent with just enough sweetness to seduce your palate as an aperitif or tempt you when you want something perfectly naughty to finish ... or, perhaps ... to start again!"
Then, there is the #2 sparkling wine on my list, the Domaine des Baumard Cremant de Loire Carte Turquoise. It is a very clean and crisp Chenin Blanc cuvée, with nicely fresh acidity. According to The Wine Enthusiast, Carte Turquoise offers a "rich, complex blend of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc made by one of the top producers in Anjou. The ripe fruits have kept their freshness, leaving a generous but crisp wine, with a delicate, elegant mousse."
You can be sure one of these wines will be served with dinner and romance on Valentine's Day! Now, I just need to decide on the tablesetting.
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