Seared diver-caught scallops and mature white burgundy

I was trying to think what food and wine match I would most like to be presented with on Valentine’s Day. I’m off foie gras. Caviar is horrendously expensive and very un-PC. Smoked salmon is nice, certainly, but no longer quite the special treat it once was (unless it’s wild). And I must be one of the few people in the world who isn’t anyone’s for a gooey chocolate pud.

So far as wine is concerned I rarely turn down a glass of Champagne but it would be nice to be offered something a little less obvious. A great red? Tempting, but I’m not sure Valentine’s night is the night for a large hunk of meat.

What I would really like - and I hope my husband is reading this - are a few fabulously fresh diver-caught scallops just seared on the grill, accompanied by a small salad of freshly picked leaves and a really gorgeous bottle of white burgundy (which we would obviously share . . . ) In my romantic fantasy it would be an old Corton-Charlemagne but I’d happily settle for a Chassagne-Montrachet or a Pernand-Vergelesses.

There’s something about aged white burgundy - and other top Chardonnays - that goes sublimely well with the umami taste you get in seared scallops (and foods such as roast chicken and mature parmesan which we could nibble for afters). Hard to beat as a Valentine’s treat.

Image © fkruger - Fotolia.com

Dark chocolate and Cherry Heering

If you haven’t got round to thinking of a suitably romantic dessert for tonight try this simple idea: buy a few gorgeous dark handmade chocolates and truffles and serve them with a frozen shot of cherry brandy. (Don’t worry, it won’t actually freeze, simply turn lusciously cold and syrupy.)

My favourite brand is the Danish Cherry Heering, also known as Heering, which was once marketed under the memorable slogan ‘Cherry Heering, very cheering!’ But you could use any cherry brandy or liqueur

You could equally well serve it with a dark chocolate mousse or chocolate pot - with a spoonful of cherry compote or other red berry fruits if you like.

For other ideas of wines, beers and soft drinks to serve with a Valentine’s dinner see the tagged articles below.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Image © Mariusz Blach - Fotolia