Cooking a meal for your date at home is a great way to show off your skills in a comfortable and relaxed environment, but it can take some preparation to make it perfect. Check out our handy tips for a night at home that will be anything but boring.

Do aim to impress…

Tidy the place, get some nice wine, some candles, and of course, dig out your best recipes. There’s no harm in looking for some inspiration, but whatever you cook, make sure it’s food you’re confident with, that says something about you. Perhaps it’s a traditional family favourite, or the first recipe you truly perfected after moving out of home.

Focus on the flavour, and be sure to use fresh produce. You could always suggest a trip to the farmers’ market in the morning! If you’ve met online through a dating site such as Jazzed Australia, check out your date’s profile to get an idea of what kind of meals they’d like.

…But don’t forget your limits!

Keep it simple, stupid! A fancy meal of gastronomical proportions sure does sound impressive, but can you pull it off? Unless you’re Heston Blumenthal, it’s best to steer clear of that de-constructed soufflé for now. Too much can go wrong, and the possibility of blowing your date away with your skills is more likely to become disappointing your date with a burnt dish.

Do keep it light

The last thing you want is for your date to feel stuffed and bloated after dinner, particularly when you’ve put in so much effort. Try a series of smaller dishes, such as a tapas menu. Not only will this avoid any mood-killing food comas, but the thrill of sharing tasting plates with each other will boost your connection and bring down that mid-table barrier.

Do keep it casual

No matter how hard you try, this is not a ritzy dinner date in a top restaurant, and it never will be. Play to the theme’s strengths. A romantic dinner date at home should be relaxed and fun, not buttoned-down and stressful.

Pick recipes that don’t require too much focus and allows you to chat as you cook, or get your date involved in the kitchen with you over a glass of wine for a bit of extra fun.

Don’t start the bedroom talk too soon

One of the benefits of a romantic home dinner is how smoothly you can make the move to the bedroom, but timing is still important! Don’t start that kind of talk too soon on the date, or you might ruin your date’s appetite for good. Let it happen organically, and just like any date, don’t assume it’s a done deal.