For each cocktail:

1 oz. frozen strawberry puree, I prefer the Boiron variety, but Oasis, or anything similar will do
½ oz. pineapple juice
½ oz. Chambord royale
4 oz. champagne, or sparkling wine
1 pc. lemon twist, for garnish

• Ensure all of the ingredients are well chilled
• In a champagne flute place strawberry puree, pineapple juice and Chambord royale, stir to combine with a spoon
• Top with 4 oz. of sparkling wine
• Garnish with a lemon twist
• Enjoy!

Now that you have a cocktail to set the mood handled it’s time to set about figuring out dinner. In order to determine what to make for her it’s going to have to start with knowing a little bit about what she likes to eat. Chances are if you listened to her at all throughout your relationship she might have shared some clues about things she likes and doesn’t. Think back to your recent restaurant visits, what did she rave about, and more importantly, what did she not enjoy? You do listen while she talks don’t you? No? Well, there may be no hope for you after all. If that’s the case the only thing that may save you is to head to the nearest jewelry store and pick up something with a lot of carats.

If you have been paying attention and you have some clue, piece together what you think you are capable of creating. Don’t overthink it either. It could be as simple as putting together a picnic type meal, with an assortment of cheeses, charcuterie, olives, nuts and some fresh baked breads and crackers. It could be as elaborate as beef wellington. It will depend on your level of comfort in the kitchen. Remember, she will appreciate the fact that you took it upon yourself to create a special experience for her, rather than simply sticking with the standard flowers or box of chocolates.

A personal favorite for me to start any great meal is to shuck some fresh oysters. If you have it in you to use an oyster shucker then this can end up being a simple, yet tasteful way to set the mood for the evening. A little squeeze of fresh lemon and splash of Tabasco is all you need to compliment these supple gifts of the ocean, and there is something to be said about their powers as an aphrodisiac.

I will leave the main course up to you. After all, I can’t do all the work for you. Do keep in mind that you want to keep things light and fun. There is nothing that can kill the mood more than sitting down to a heavy meal. Serving something hands on can help to make things a little more enticing too. Don’t forget to save a little room for dessert because I’ve got something simple enough that even you can’t screw up and is sure to make your lady melt.

You would be hard pressed to find a lady who doesn’t love a classic chocolate dipped strawberry, after all, both chocolate and strawberries happen to be aphrodisiacs, which might really help to end the evening off just the way you hoped it would. Let’s take the classic pairing of chocolate and strawberries and crank it up a bit though.