Darren Proud, the award-winning Senior Head Chef with Amadeus,
has decided to share his culinary know-how with those who feel they
are a lost cause in the kitchen but still want to cook up a storm
this Valentine's Day.
With February 14 fast approaching, he's produced a
handful of top tips for those who believe the stomach is the way to
anyone's heart - simple, smart and satisfied.
Having recently scooped up a massive forty-four
awards at the Salon Culinaire, the UK's largest
internationally-respected chef's competition, Darren and his team
at Amadeus certainly knows the necessary tricks of the trade. And
the first golden rule for making a romantic meal is to keep it
simple.
Darren Proud, the award-winning Senior Head Chef with Amadeus,
has decided to share his culinary know-how with those who feel they
are a lost cause in the kitchen but still want to cook up a storm
this Valentine's Day.
With February 14 fast approaching, he's produced a handful of
top tips for those who believe the stomach is the way to anyone's
heart - simple, smart and satisfied.
Having recently scooped up a massive forty-four awards at the
Salon Culinaire, the UK's largest internationally-respected chef's
competition, Darren and his team at Amadeus certainly knows the
necessary tricks of the trade. And the first golden rule for making
a romantic meal is to keep it simple.
Darren said:
"Keep it simple - there's no point in
overcomplicating dishes with lots of ingredients - in my experience
it's much better to do something simply but done perfectly well.
For example steak and chips with a simple but freshly prepared
salsa. All you need to is to finely chop; jalapeños, green pepper,
tomatoes, onions and add a dash of salt and lime juice.
Tues 1st Feb
If you're after substance over looks, then accompany your meals
with some quality breads such as; focaccia and ciabattas - they
won't break the bank and can help tide over when the mains are
still cooking. It's also an idea to do 3 smaller courses such as; a
light leek and potato soup, a hearty main of oven-baked pork chops
with a Swede mash and grilled vegetables, followed by a sweet mango
mousse , rather than 2 big ones as it will be better both
presentation-wise and time-management wise.
Weds 2nd Feb
The gift of foresight is great- so don't leave things until the
last minute. "You can choose dishes that can be prepped in advance
so, on the evening itself you can spend less time in the kitchen
and most of the time with your partner rather than slaving over a
hot stove. Time management is the key to make everything less
stressful!
Darren also suggests using some pre-produced ingredients to
smooth the process. Adding strawberries to meringue nests for
example makes instant Pavlovas - "it's not cheating, it's called
being smart! If you're not an experienced cook then why stress
yourself out? Food should be enjoyable too especially at
Valentine's!"
Thurs 3rd Feb
Giving your partner what they want is also important, and can
save the expense. Darren said: "As everyone's still feeling the
pinch after Christmas and you really don't need to spend lots to
make a great dining experience. A nice salad with prawns, or
chicken, or cheese for veggie can make tasty starters.
Italian pasta dishes or seafood like salmon are both good
value, with a substantial and filing accompaniment like potatoes or
rice.