Event Tag: Valentine’s Day

Special Occasion Dinners for Any Home Chef

Special Occasion Dinner at HomeFor many of us over the past year, an evening to celebrate a special occasion with dinner out on the town has been put on hold. In the meantime, we still need to celebrate, perhaps now more than ever. No matter your culinary talents — or lack thereof — any home cook can upgrade an ordinary night in, to give a birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s Day (hint hint), or any big announcement or milestone the recognition it deserves.

Create a restaurant-quality meal right at home. It is easier than you think, but the results are just as impressive as if it were prepared by a professional. One of our most popular cuts of beef for a special dinner is the filet mignon. Keep it simple with a classic pan-seared cooking method that can’t be beat for tenderness. The same goes for the porterhouse, often a steak that is a real treat for hearty appetites. Serve with your favorite steakhouse sides, and it’ll taste truly authentic. Another special occasion meal that might be far from your usual at-home menu: grilled lollipop lambchops. The “rack of lamb,” has incredibly tender meat. It’s a perfect meal for two, either for Valentine’s Day or any weekend night and easier to prepare than you’d think.

lollipop rack of lamb
Lamb Lollipop (chops) at Butcher Boy

Focus on the cooking and let us help with the dessert. Butcher Boy has a sweet selection of cakes and pastries to pair with your savory entree. Looking for something decadent? Try a chocolate lava cake, Mousse Tower, or the Konditor Meister ganache cake for two. Need a great bottle of wine or the makings for a fancy cocktail? We have that, too!

Even though you’re at home, there are some easy ways to make it feel like a special night out. Change out of your usual attire and dress the part, break out the good dishes and glasses, light a few candles, and set the mood with music. If you have a fireplace, create some fireside dining romance. If the weather cooperates, how about an outdoor winter wonderland? String up some lights around the deck or patio. Sit around a crackling fire pit under blankets take the time to reconnect under the stars.

What are your time-tested romantic meals and at-home date ideas? Share with us on Facebook or Instagram.

Impress Your Valentine With a 5-Star Dinner at Home

Valentines Dinner SteakValentine’s Day is coming up, and dinner out is a common way for couples to celebrate. But we think the sweetest way to your valentine’s heart is with a homemade dinner neither of you will forget. Especially if it can be compared to a 5-star restaurant meal.

Let your sweetheart indulge in one of the most romantic dinners we can think of: decadent, rich, flavorful steak.

A filet cut of beef guarantees the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat. That’s what you’ll get with this recipe for filet mignon with mushroom red wine sauce (adjust accordingly for the thickness of your steaks).

Another steak worthy of a special occasion is rib eye. The marinade in this Southeast Asian recipe adds a sweet and savory flavor.

Porterhouse is generous enough for two. It’s a t-bone that includes a larger portion of the tenderloin, so the porterhouse is perfect for sharing with the one you love.

If something other than beef sounds intriguing, consider putting lamb lollipops on your Valentine’s Day dinner menu.

Serve any of these meats with simple sides, including mashed or roasted potatoes and other vegetables. While you’re at Butcher Boy, pick up a bottle of wine and a decadently delicious dessert.

But it’s not all about the cooking or the flavors.  Don’t forget about presentation.

Here are some ideas for plating your romantic meal.

  • If you have them, use white plates. Food looks great on a white backdrop because the colors stand out.
  • Picture a clock as you plate. From the diner’s point of view, the meat should be between 3 and 9, your starch or carbohydrate from 9 and 12, and your vegetable from 12 and 3.
  • Less is more. Put the star of your meal – your protein – on the plate by itself and put the sides in small bowls. If you choose to serve everything together, just don’t overcrowd the plate.
  • Serve food in odd numbers. Five potatoes instead of six is visually more appealing.
  • Design with sauces. Don’t just pour them on the food, drizzle the sauce carefully or use a spoon to create accent dots on the plate.

Not sure you can pull it all off? Even if you’re not the next home cook featured on Master Chef, we can help you gain confidence in the kitchen. Reference our roasting and grilling guides for whatever you choose to prepare for your valentine.

 

Skip the Reservation: The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Dinner  

You can create the perfect Valentine’s Day, without venturing out in the cold night or making a reservation.

Picture yourself and your partner at a candlelit dinner for two, homemade with love. Plan the perfect night in with our beautifully arranged flowers available at every price point, a Caspari greeting card that captures your love story, and the ingredients to make this romantic meal for two.

The Main Course

beef wellington
via Beef Wellington

Feel the sizzle in the air. We’re talking about the meat, of course! Impress that special someone with this savory Beef Wellington recipe from Jessica Gavin. Dijon mustard-brushed filet mignon is individually wrapped in prosciutto that’s covered with a mushroom filling, and then wrapped again in a blanket of golden brown crispy puff pastry. Finally, a mushroom red wine sauce made with the steak’s drippings is drizzled on top.

The Complements

Caesar Salad
via Bon Appétit

Why not start the meal with a nice salad? We prepare a variety of fresh-cut green salads, including Caesar and Mesclun with our house dijon vinaigrette. If you prefer to make at home, pick up the fixings to make this classic Caesar from Bon Appétit.

Hollandaise Sauce
via Julia Childs on Genius Kitchen

No dinner experience is complete without sides. That’s why we carry seasoned, oven-ready asparagus made in-house, an ideal side for Beef Wellington. Our asparagus is delicious as-is, but if you’re looking for a Hollandaise to top, this recipe from Julia Childs on Genius Kitchen should do the trick.

Butcher Boy Beer and Wine
via Butcher Boy Market

Set the mood by serving your favorite wine or classic spirit. We carry Veuve Clicquot, Moët, and Perrier-Jouët in full, half bottles, and splits. Or, choose from our great selection of whites and reds. Not sure which wine to choose? Consult this guide to find the perfect wine pairing for your meal.

The Desserts

Lake Champlain Chocolates
via Lake Champlain Chocolates

Finish the evening with sweets for your sweetheart. Why not cozy up together by sharing a box of chocolate? Here you can find goodies from Harbor Sweets, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and Vermont Nut Free Chocolates.

Konditor Meister mini chocolate ganache cakes
via Konditor Meister Cake

If you’re looking for a dessert with a beautiful presentation, try our own hand-dipped chocolate-covered strawberries. We also offer Konditor Meister mini chocolate ganache cakes and petite fours elaborately decorated for Valentine’s Day.

No host, waiter, or line needed, just you and your Valentine sharing an intimate meal for two. We can’t think of a better way to spend the holiday.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Want more Valentine’s Day recipes? Check out our post from last year, Romantic Valentine’s Day Menu.

Stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to get the latest tips and know-how.

Romantic Valentine’s Day Menu

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and we want yours to go smoothly. So here at Butcher Boy we have chocolate dipped strawberries for something sweet, flowers for something beautiful, and meats for you to make the perfect romantic meal for someone special.

A deliciously cooked dinner is a great way to show your love, so try out one of these recipes as part of your tender loving care.

1) Prosciutto Crostini with Burrata and Lemon Honey Drizzle

proscuitto crostini burrata

The Charming Detroiter’s prosciutto crostini has everything we look for in an appetizer. It’s loaded with flavor, easy to make, and elegant. Salty prosciutto is offset by the addition of honey, and the cheese provides a luscious creaminess that ties everything together.

2) Pan Seared Filet Mignon with Garlic Herb Butter

filet-mignon
via Kitchen Swagger

Filet mignon is is the ideal cut of beef for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day. This main course, courtesy of Kitchen Swagger, is cooked in a hot cast iron skillet and just calls for a few additional ingredients: butter, rosemary, and tarragon. Best of all, it takes just 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish. Check out this wine pairing guide to find the perfect spirit to complement your steak.

3) Rack of Lamb with Spicy Fennel Rub

rack-of-lamb-recipe
via Fearless Fresh

Is your sweetheart not a steak-lover? Spice it up with this fiery fennel rub on rack of lamb from Fearless Fresh. Re-ignite your passions with just the right amount of heat from chili and black pepper. The prep time says 15 minutes, but we promise this recipe will taste like it took hours to make.

4) Parmesan-Herb Roasted Potatoes

parmesan-herb-roasted-potatoes
via Cooking Classy

No dinner would be complete without a starch, such as potatoes. Cooking Classy’s version uses Parmesan, rosemary, and parsley. These ingredients are tossed with the spuds and olive oil before roasting in the oven. You know they are ready to be taken out when the skin is crispy and a deep golden color sets in.

5) Killer Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

spinach-salad-I-howsweeteats
via How Sweet It Is

Bacon makes everything better, especially salads. This side was created by How Sweet It Is and is the embodiment of comfort food kicked up a notch. Prep everything the night before, such as cutting the onions and hard boiling the eggs, and dress the salad right before serving.

6) Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
via Fine Cooking

At the end of a fabulous meal, there’s nothing more satisfying than topping it off with an incredible dessert. This flourless chocolate cake comes to us from Fine Cooking and is the epitome of indulgence. The key here is to use high-quality bittersweet chocolate. The better the chocolate, the richer the flavor.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Butcher Boy!

Want more romantic menu ideas?

Visit us in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to get the latest tips and know-how.