French Valentine’s Dinner for Singles

This past week, Soraya, Stacy and I prepped and then Soraya and I worked to 2 more days to create this French Valentine’s Dinner for Singles. 

And believe you me, it was worth the investment of time! I created this event because I was tired of sitting around and waiting for someone to ask me out for Valentine’s Day. And I had this feeling I wasn’t alone. So I got on the phone to Soraya because she had offered her home for a cooking event and then and we both decided that this was the opportunity we were waiting for.

I will say that Soraya is one of my San Diego Foodies members, that I knew I could help create something I had not made before, and learn from at the same time and that’s exactly what happened.

Soraya grew up cooking with her family and shared much of her knowledge with me. So let’s take a look at this event ….

We decide that we don’t want to serve bread because that becomes a bread appetizer and we’re all full. We decide we don’t wanna serve appetizers because we get to the main dinner and we’re all full.

Soraya’s idea is that everyone comes at 7 PM and at 7:30 PM we sit down to dinner. So that’s exactly what we did! And what at French Valentine’s Dinner for Singles it was!

Let’s take you on this journey! We serve a ‘bite’, paired with wine in the kitchen. We use ‘taster glasses, so that people can taste the wine, to know what they want to drink at dinner. Some people who did not drink, wanted just a taste here and there. So that worked out well. We then move into the dining room for our first course, and absolutely divine chicken meatball soup.  Usually, soup is soup. But when you fill a baby size ground meatball with feta and herbs, in a broth like this, it becomes an experience, not a soup!  

Soraya  makes  sure  to throw  the  spinach in at the very last minute and that makes all the difference.  

Next we are onto Scallops in Fried Purses with a chive tie and an amazing sauce. We ate that up so fast, I don’t have a picture for you!

Next, we are enjoying Beef that has been braised 5 hours in red wine plus a slice

of delicious vegetable quiche (broccoli, asparagus and orange peppers).  

That is followed by a beautiful golden beet salad, which as Soraya puts it “Gets your mouth ready for dessert” because it’s so light.

Well, shall we talk about a Pear Tart with Almond Cream or just feast with our eyes? And after it is cooked and glazed with honey? Yum and more yum! And how about a beautiful Creme Brûlée?

We had hours upon hours to feast, drink good wine and laugh with friends.

Valentine’s was not an ‘early to bed’ event for what is time this year.

It was a sumptuous meal thanks to our Home Cook (and she insists) not a Chef, Soraya but here’s the truth. We are all chefs in our own right. And it doesn’t matter what the label you put on it, if it’s good food and you created it you are the chef de cuisine and you should own it.

So here’s to my special friends Soraya and Stacy who made this event happen. Plus all of the friends that stopped by to help make this event possible before it even started and all the attendees who pitched in before like Kerry and all the people who kept clearing plates and bringing new ones back to the table.

It was a French Valentine’s Dinner for Singles that will stay with us through this year. I can still taste most of the dishes! And I tell you, it was YUM! All clean, all organic, grass fed and wild caught. Certainly a healthier way to eat and live.

Thanks Soraya for opening your home to us!  And it was even more fun to go to the French Market with you and have you tell me what I absolutely needed to try and buy. What a glorious week. My thanks! Merci Beaucoup!