In This ArticleView AllIn This Article1. Think of dinners together as a treat.2. Set the mood.3. Spiff up your space.4. Keep things playful.5. No need to be too fancy with the food.6. Be generous with praise.7. Reminisce about your favorite memories together.
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
Think of dinners together as a treat.
Set the mood.
Spiff up your space.
Keep things playful.
No need to be too fancy with the food.
Be generous with praise.
Reminisce about your favorite memories together.
Some duos just work. Chocolate and peanut butter. Popcorn and movies. Jeffrey and Ina Garten.
Getty Images / Taylor Hill / Contributor
These timeless pairings seem to simply always team up well. Although we’re sure Jeffrey and Ina have their “moments” just like every couple, they’ve been married for 55 years and their love for each other seems to grow stronger with each passing day. They’ve been baking up a storm and shaking up supersized cocktails, and seem to be the epitome of couple goals.
So with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we were inspired to dive into the archives of their best #relationshipgoals moments to see what we can all learn about how to keep things fresh and romantic.
Around the time of the release of her bookCooking for JeffreyIna toldThe Kitchn, “Any night at home is special,” since Jeffrey used to travel for work so often. Plus, it takes more planning than calling for takeout or a reservation. “I think just making dinner takes a real effort—to shop and cook and clean up afterwards—it’s a real gift to someone you care about. By definition it’s date night.”
If you need some swoon-worthy tune inspiration, she even pulled together a Spotify playlist with just this in mind:Ina’s Favorite Love Songs.
A few small touches can make a big difference to elevate a date night at home, Ina believes. Try glowing candles, fresh flowers and real table settings. “It’s really worth the time to use a great linen napkin,” Ina shared withThe Kitchn. “You can use folded paper towels for Sunday night takeout, but when I’m actually making dinner, it’s nice to honor it with a nice napkin.”
While a backyard campout in February would be pretty frigid in most parts of the country, perhaps you could set up a blanket and pillow fort for an indoor campsite just like one creativeEatingWelleditor and her plus one did last Valentine’s Day.
If you’re stressing about perfecting that beef Wellington you’ve never attempted before, you might not savor the special holiday as much. So keep things simple and easy with dinners anyone can cook, or even a “snack dinner” of a charcuterie board and a chocolate fondue station for dessert.
“You really connect over a really nice, simple dinner rather than a fancy dinner that’s meant to impress people,” Ina said inThe Kitchninterview. “The key is to make something so when you’re done with dinner, you can still be present for the people who are there—that’s what makes them feel special.”
“This is the best chicken ever,” Jeffrey swoons in that Barefoot Contessa video. And later in the clip, Ina shared her sample of Thomas Keller’s fried chicken, then asked, “Is it the best fried chicken you’ve ever had?” To which Jeffrey replied, “Next to the one you make!”
Words of affirmation are one of the five love languages for a reason. They mean a lot! So whether it’s positive reviews about the meal, a simple “I appreciate ______ about you” or a sweet social media post in honor of your relationship, know the little gestures can make a big difference.
Flip through old photo albums (either physical or on Facebook), and reflect on how you’ve grown, evolved and changed. On their 52-year anniversary, Ina posted this sweet walk down memory lane, with the caption, “Fifty-two years and still having so much fun! You gave me a life I could never have dreamed of.”
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