Romantic Meals

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine and thou.Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Why is it that Omar Khayyam found bliss in the perfect combination of bread, wine and a loved one? It is really not about what we eat, but rather who we eat with.

As we near Valentine's Day, I stop to wonder what difference a day makes. In Italy, these commercial holidays are just coming into fashion, for sales of roses and chocolates. I find that everyday, showing someone a sign of affection makes the world a better place.

Often in Italy that sign of affection is a plate of food, prepared with love and served with attention to detail.

Another famous chef once commented on the simple pleasures of an egg and raising it to new heights depending on friends. It could become a cheese-filled omelet with fine herbs for a planned lunch with a friend or a simple rustic dish poached in a tomato sauce and served with toast points. For someone that came unannounced a hard-boiled egg was all they deserved, for not having the courtesy to call first.

There are dishes I make to please my husband, most are recipes he remembers his mother making for him as a child. Some are very labor intensive and I make them once a year, or once a season. Some foods fall into a special occasion food, such as the fabulous semifreddo called Meringata, which is two layers of baked meringue, filled with whipped cream and large shards of bittersweet chocolate, frosted with whipped cream and more chocolate shards on top. It is frozen, and then removed from the freezer 15 minutes before serving- hence the name "Semi-freddo" almost cold.

Of course a chocolate mousse would be romantic, perhaps served as we had on a holiday in Le Marche, at Clandestino, with orange -infused extra virgin olive oil and Maldon sea salt sprinkled on top.

But the reality of it is, I can serve a fabulous loaf of bread, baked in a wood-burning oven, slathered in thick, rich, dark green unfiltered extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt from Sicily and sharing it with my husband is one of the most romantic meals we could have. Just add wine!

Searching for the perfect ingredients even for the simplest of meals- a true sign of love! So on this Valentine's Day: KISS,Keep It Simple Sweetie!