Love is definitely in the air

Planning to impress your beloved with gourmet food at home this Valentine’s Day? This month we’re going green for our take on a three-course menu idea from the Watercress Company –bursting with flavour, simple, and delicious. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or just for treating your beloved or bestie to something a little bit special. Start with a classic watercress soup, served with homemade bread you learned to make for Real Bread Week! Follow with Pesto Linguine, and if you still have room for dessert, then a Pavlova Roulade with seasonal fruit, and perhaps a chocolate or two. Our top picks are Chococo’s Valentine assorted caramels and delectable Dark Chocolate Love Bar. If your Valentine is into shoes, then this funky chocolate Leopard Print Milk Chocolate Stiletto from Chocolate Arthouse is sure to please! New on the Dorset chocolate scene are Poco Chocolate. We’ve been working with them at a few of the Dorset Farmers Markets, and their handmade small batch chocolates always go down a storm.

Going out – drinking in

Remember that supporting your local pub, café or restaurant is a super cool way to eat locallysourced food and drink.

We love this Valentine’s menu from Weymouth 51, starring four courses of Dorset loveliness. Booking is essential; places at these fabulous feast night pop ups sell out fast!

Perhaps treat your Valentine to a glass of classically elegant locally-made wine. Romance in a glass! Whether you’re having a bottle with dinner, or pouring a glass after a date night, a delicious wine is the perfect way to get into the romantic mood. Because Dorset has such a warm climate and good quality soil, it’s an ideal place for growing grapes. Check out our great selection of Dorset wines here. If you prefer something without alcohol, then how about Kombucha? It’s a fermented organic green tea, lightly effervescent, delicious, and available with a range of delectable flavours. Whatever your tipple of choice, have a fabulous Valentine’s Day!

Using up your ingredients

If you still have a jar of mincemeat lurking in your cupboard from the festive season, then this Jalousie from Liz Crow aka Lizzie Baking Bird will be just the job!

Flippin’ good fun

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake day!) is Tuesday 21st February. Savoury or sweet. Traditional, or something with a nod to those fluffy American pancakes? The choice is yours, but we like this smogorsboard of toppings to give them a Dorset twist. The sweet stuff - Passion Fruit Curd From Dorset With Love. Dorset Sea Salted Caramel Sauce from A JarOf and Lemon Curd from Neil’s awardwinning Chutneys & Preserves. Buy online or check the websites for stockists.

Spring is just around the corner, so hold that thought. But until next time, keep spreading the Dorset Food & Drink ‘lurve’!