How to Impress a Date

Ready to let your domestic diva or Renaissance man take center stage? Tie on that apron and start cooking. A quiet home-cooked dinner for two, with a little style and sizzle thrown in for good measure, can turn up the heat just when you need it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Read 316 Throw a Dinner Party and get to work. Cook ahead as much as possible, have the house clean, table set and music lined up in the CD player so you're relaxed.
2. Ask your date tactfully if he or she has any food preferences. Stay away from fish unless you're grilling it outside--you don't want your house and clothes reeking of trout.
3. Pop a cork--champagne, Prosecco and other bubbly drinks aren't just for big events. Start off the evening with a little toast to the night ahead.
4. Think aphrodisiacs (if not now, then when?). Set up a sumptuous finger feast with caviar, oysters, lobster, figs, mango and artichoke leaves dipped in butter. If your date is an outdoor lover, pack your feast in a basket and head to the beach or a quiet, scenic park. See 321 Plan an Outdoor Party.
5. Start with soups or savory tarts--they're more unusual and impressive than your typical green salad.
6. Try a cheese course before dessert, paired with thin slices of baguette, toasted nuts with a drizzle of honey and olives for a sophisticated touch.
7. Finish it off with a chocolate fondue or flourless chocolate cake. Chocolate, unlike whatever follows the meal, is a "sure thing."

Tips & Warnings

• Get a meat thermometer that reads in doneness rather than temperature, for example, "well-done steak" will be easier to comprehend than 170 degrees F (77 C).
• If you're pressed for time, or you're a wreck in the kitchen, buy prepared food from a high-end market and plate it up at home. Or get takeout to serve as appetizers, such as sushi or spring rolls. Find a little French bakery where you can pick up a delicious dessert.