How to Create a Romantic Valentine’s Day Date at Home (Fondue, Wine & Chocolate Strawberries)

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A Simple Yet Romantic Valentine’s Date Night at Home

Valentine's Day is already next week so it's time to get planning. While going out on Valentine's Day is a classic choice, sometimes making a romantic night in can be even better. The staff are friendly, there's never a wait for a table, and everyone there knows your name. But in all seriousness, I think some of the best Valentine's Days I've had with my husband have been when we've been home together spending the evening together. So here's my exact plan for this year that you can replicate at home to take the stress out of this high stakes holiday.

Part 1 — Classic Cheese Fondue

Why this works:
Fondue feels special and interactive without being complicated — once it’s going, it’s basically hands-off. So high reward for not too much effort. That's really the whole idea behind my blog in the first place. Easy elegance.

🧀 Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe (Serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 1 clove garlic, halved

• 1 cup dry white wine (doesn't have to be an expensive wine by any means. I usually keep an inexpensive bottle from Costco or Aldi in our wine fridge for such occasions)

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 8 oz grated Gruyère

• 8 oz grated Emmental (or Swiss)

• 1 tbsp cornstarch

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Optional: pinch of nutmeg (not usually something I add, but very traditional)

Instructions:

1. Rub the inside of a small fondue pot or heavy saucepan with the cut garlic, then discard the garlic. This just gives some light flavor without having a giant garlic glove or pieces swimming around)

2. Warm the wine and lemon juice over medium heat until it just simmers.

3. In a bowl, toss the grated cheeses with cornstarch (this helps it melt evenly).

4. Gradually add cheese to the warm wine, stirring constantly in a zig-zag (not circular) motion until smooth and creamy.

5. Season with pepper and a touch of nutmeg if you like.

6. Keep warm on a fondue burner or low heat.

Dippers (think easy, elevated):

• Cubes of crusty baguette

• Steamed baby potatoes

• Sliced apples or pears (my favorite to use are Granny Smith apples)

• Blanched asparagus or soft steamed broccoli, cauliflower is great too!

• Cured meats like prosciutto or salami

Store-Bought Fondue Alternatives

Need something a little faster and easier? Try one of these great ready-to-heat options:

• Marieke Gouda Fondue (rich & creamy Dutch-style)

• Alouette Fondue Cheese Spread (melts beautifully)

• Trader Joe’s Cheese Fondue (if you’re near one — super easy)

• Or even a raclette set with melted cheese and boiled potatoes — equally luxe and minimal prep (I really, really want one of these so as soon as I find a good one I will be buying it and writing all about it. So stay tuned!)

Serve with the same dippers — effortless and delicious.

Fondue Sets — Best Buy, Splurge & Affordable Alternative

• Best Buy – For a tried and true fondue set the Cuisinart Fondue Set does not disappoint. It comes with eight forks and most importantly it's nonstick!

• Splurge – If you truly want an incredibly authentic experience the Swissmar Lugano is absolutely the best option. It's cast iron so you don't have to worry about any weird chemical coating and it will keep your fondue evenly warm for as long as the dippers hold out. This is an amazing set that will last you forever.

• Affordable Alternative – If you're not sure how often fondue is going to be your thing and just looking for something to get started with, the Nostalgia Electric Fondue Set is a great option (and it's on sale). No having to worry about live flames either as it's completely electric. And it comes with six fondue forks.

🍓Chocolate-Covered Strawberries (Easy & Elegant)

Serves: 2 (about 12 strawberries)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 15–20 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 fresh strawberries, preferably large (these can be tough to get during this time of year, but try for greenhouse grown for the best flavor)

• 6 oz high-quality dark or semi-sweet chocolate (bars or chips)

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional, but recommended)

• Optional toppings:

  • Flaky sea salt

  • White chocolate (for drizzling)

  • Finely chopped pistachios or almonds

  • Freeze-dried raspberries, crushed

Instructions

1. Prep the strawberries
   Wash the strawberries and dry them completely. This is important — any moisture can prevent the chocolate from sticking smoothly. Leave the stems on for easy dipping.

2. Melt the chocolate
   Set up a double boiler by placing a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). I have two saucepans that fit perfectly with each other to make this work or you can always buy a real double boiler like this one.
   Add the chocolate and coconut oil to the bowl and stir occasionally until fully melted and smooth.

3. Dip the strawberries
   Holding each strawberry by the stem, dip it into the melted chocolate, gently swirling to coat. Let any excess drip off before placing it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

4. Add toppings (optional)
   While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with sea salt or other toppings if using. For a drizzle, wait until the chocolate sets slightly, then drizzle with melted white chocolate.

5. Set the chocolate
   Transfer the strawberries to the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm.

6. Serve
   Let strawberries sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving for the best texture and flavor.

Tips for Perfect Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

• Use real chocolate, not candy melts, for the best flavor. The nice part about using real chocolate too is that you can tailor it to your preferences. If you like dark chocolate go dark, if you like milk chocolate do milk!

• Coconut oil adds shine and helps the chocolate melt more smoothly, but it’s optional.

• Make these the same day you plan to serve them — they’re best fresh. But they can survive in the fridge for a day. So if you need to make them the night before they will be okay the next evening.

🍷 Top Wine Pairings for Fondue + Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Here are some great wine pairings to elevate your evening:

🥂 Whites (Perfect with cheese & fruit)

1. Chablis (France) – crisp minerality cuts the richness of fondue.

2. Sancerre (France) – zesty Sauvignon Blanc with stone fruit notes. (Sancerre is my absolute favorite French white wine)

3. Alsace Pinot Blanc (France) – softer, rounder white that hugs cheese.

4. Champagne or Crémant – elegant bubbles that make everything feel special.

🍷 Light-Bodied Red (optional but lovely)

5. French Pinot Noir (Bourgogne or Loire) – light, delicate red that won’t overpower fondue and plays nicely with chocolate and berries.

Pairing notes:

• Sparkling wines work gorgeous across the whole meal — cheese and strawberries!

• Crisp whites balance the creamy fondue so you’re not overwhelmed.

❤️ Setting the Mood

The allure of going out for dinner on Valentine's Day is the ambiance of an elegant restaurant. But making that at home isn't all that hard with the right little touches.

• Lighting: candles + string lights. Creating that soft glow is what it's all about and make everything feel soft and romantic. The string lights can be used as additional soft lighting strewn on the table or, if you're feeling adventurous, tacked up closer to the ceiling. The goal would be to either keep the lights in the room you're using off or very dim to allow for the softness of this lighting to really shine.

• Music: soft jazz, French café playlist. You want something simple in the background that makes it feel like you're at a fancy French restaurant, without the sticker shock at the end.

• Table: fresh flowers, gorgeous table runner, pretty plates. This is the exact table runner I have (mine is lavender) and it creates a nice touch without feeling over the top. Plus it's very light and sheer so you can wrap it around your center piece to add some more color or just as a nice addition to your table to create the elegance you're looking for.

The whole goal of staying in to enjoy Valentine's Day shouldn't be for you to make this giant over the top meal with tons of dishes and prep and chaos. It should be fun, simple, yet still refined and make you feel like the hopeless romantic we all aspire to be.

💌 With Love

With just a little planning — a simple fondue, beautiful berries, great wine — you can create a Valentine’s night that feels intimate and elevated without being stressful. Create this incredible evening not only for the one you love, but for yourself too. Bisous ❤️