In a break with our usual postings, this year with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we have decided to poll the workshop and get some suggestions for how to make the best of it in the lockdown, with scant supermarket deliveries and possibly snow delaying the post. Here’s what we came up with....
One thing we know for sure is that if you’re planning a romantic night in, choose a candle arrangement that doesn’t block your view of the opposite side of the table. We recommend a pair of single candles, or a candelabra with only a couple of candles lit, to make sure it’s not too warm or too bright for you and your valentine to enjoy dinner and gazing into each other’s eyes.
Now it’s time to break out the fine bone china and the crystal glasses. It might only be a meal of store cupboard spaghetti, but it doesn’t matter if the tableware says luxury and romance. Whatever feast you provide for your loved one, just make sure you don’t overfill the plate. Our tableware is the perfect size for presenting your food, so choose a small portion and it will look like a fine Michelin Star meal. Also, use the heirloom cutlery you were saving for a special occasion. If it is silver, don’t forget to give it a polish.
Wine is important, and all wine tastes better from a high-quality crystal that catches the aromas of the wine and the sparkle of candlelight. If you are saving a rare bottle for a special occasion, this is that moment. We recommend opening it and letting it breath for at least 2 hours before dinner, and of course if you were to enjoy the wine in some Grant Macdonald fine cut crystal, it will make you both feel like you are dining out in Paris.
When dinner is over, skip dessert and move straight to a warming fireside spirit - brandy or whisky, served in a classic decanter and enjoyed with a little mood music.
Finally, for a little dinner chat, might we suggest you tell the story of how the lion symbol of London became the root of the word Leopard (leo-part), looking more like a leopard than a maned white lion from London’s Coat of Arms… for silversmiths, talking assay office hallmark history is the soul of romance.
However you choose to spend St. Valentine’s Day this year, even if you are spending it distanced from your valentine, we know that the little things like glasses and tableware can elevate your mood considerably. A little extra luxury is good for your wellbeing, so light a candle, sip something warming, and we wish you a very happy St. Valentine’s Day from all at Grant Macdonald London.