Recommended by Foodie Expert Stephanie Brookes
Vegan on Female First
It’s that time of the year when hearts, flowers (and chocolate!) are in greater abundance than ever. It’s also the perfect opportunity to indulge in those treats we all denied ourselves in January. For the couple that is looking for delicious, vegan food there are more options now than there has ever been, and you never once have to sacrifice on flavour.
For that perfect, romantic evening at home, these suggestions should help ensure your night gets off to a delicious start!
Dinner for Two –
When you can dine-in for a fraction of the cost and still have a fabulous quality product, a night-in really is a no-brainer. For that romantic, yet cosy meal on the sofa, a great option is the Vegan Dinner for Two Hamper (£55) from yumbles.com. This beautifully presented hamper is also conveniently delivered straight to your door, and takes all the hassle out of shopping and deciding what to cook. In your delightful foodie hamper you’ll receive Sicilian green olives, Bronze die cut fettuccine pasta, Sun-dried tomato, almond and pistachio paté (perfect to accompany the pasta), chocolate coated fig bites and a bottle of organic, vegan white wine. This could even double-up as that perfect Valentine’s present for your partner – only if you agree to cook, of course!
Naughty but Nice –
A delicious meal has to finish with a sumptuous dessert and for that indulgent treat you can’t go wrong with Pudology Simply Sumptuous Millionaires’ Puds (£2.99) from Waitrose. Each little pot contains a crunchy biscuit base, topped with a generous amount of oozy caramel with chocolate, as well as a coconut ganache. Best of all, it’s dairy and gluten-free as well as being vegan-friendly, too.
Valentine’s just wouldn’t be the same without a little indulgence and chocolate ranks highly for all couples – even if you’re the only one enjoying it! For that perfect sweet treat, I recommend the Chilli Chocolate Sweethearts from Hotel Chocolat (£7.50) which has the perfect balance between the richness of the chocolate (70% dark chocolate to be exact) and that fiery chilli kick.
Hotel Chocolat also offers a Cocoa Gin (£15.00) which has a unique infusion of cocoa and macadamia nut. This flavour combination adds a lovely spicy note, yet it still has that refreshing crisp taste we come to expect from a great gin.
Box-set nibbles –
It’s almost impossible to enjoy a romantic movie or box-set without a few delicious nibbles, and who would even want to? If you have that savoury craving, try the totally moreish Hummus Chips seasoned with Dill (£0.69) from healthysupplies.co.uk which have 48% less fat than regular potato crisps so you can enjoy without the guilt! These little snacks are especially delicious when teamed with a fresh tomato salsa.
If you haven’t tried Waitrose Spicy Plaintain Crisps with sweet chilli and lime (£1.80), then these tasty little morsels need to be on the list. You get the natural sweetness from the plantain as well as a touch of spice and the freshness from the lime. This is the time when you need two sofas so you don’t have to share!
Whether you’re enjoying a night-in with your beloved, or simply enjoying an indulgent ‘foodie’ night with the girls, these options are the perfect, dine-in treats.
For further information, please visit Stephanie’s website at www.stephaniebrookes.com and follow her on Twitter @StephBrookes
Tagged in Valentine's Day Vegan