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Dinner and a movie might be some guys’ idea of the best date, but more and more of us are entertaining from our own homes. Of course, the way to anybody’s heart is through their stomach, which requires takeout or cooking your own food.
While cooking for date might seem daunting, studies have found that the vast majority of women enjoy guys cooking for them. With that in mind, stepping into the kitchen for your date is often the best option: You can show off your culinary flair, score major points with the lady and maintain a casual, relaxed environment.
This is usually best for the third or later date. Inviting her over for dinner if you’ve never met in person could send up all sorts of red flags. However, if it’s someone you already have a good friendship with and are transitioning to romance, it could be a great option to get things rolling.
Of course, there are always ways to screw things up, and cooking for your date presents its series of considerations and potential pitfalls. Here are a few things to keep in mind and steps to take before inviting your date over.
Plan Ahead
You want to have your meal picked out and prepped ahead of time, and you should learn a bit about your date’s diet preferences and allergies. Nothing spoils a date like a horrible allergic reaction or serving a vegan a nice steak. While this part of the plan can be a little tough — especially if you’re cooking for a first date — it’s not always necessary that you surprise her with your cooking. Explaining your plan ahead of time and getting to know a little more about any culinary considerations can go a long way.
You’ll also want to make sure you have the meal picked out ahead of time and that it’s something you feel confident preparing. Doing a trial run a night or two before — treating your housemates or yourself to a nice meal — usually helps a lot when it comes time for the big night.
Spread the Word
Speaking of housemates, if you’re cooking dinner for just yourself and your date — which is the assumption when inviting her to your place — make sure everybody in the house or apartment understands that you need privacy.
Unwanted third wheels can spoil the mood, but kicking your roommate/housemates out for the night can cause issues down the line. Instead, be prepared to share common space with your cohabitants, but make it clear that the date is important to you and that you want to make a good impression.
Practice Beforehand
Most of us aren’t professional chefs, and most dates understand this fact going in. Craft mac n cheese might be fine for a night by yourself, but if you want to impress someone, try something with a little more flair, like steak or lobster. Just make sure to ask about any preferences or allergies.
If you’re doing something new like lobster, make sure you research on exactly how to cook it. Then give it a shot a few days in advance. That way you’ll avoid surprises like the realization that you don’t have a key ingredient, or that you don’t have a pan the right size. You can also learn tweaks on improve for the real thing, like using a little less salt or more butter.
Remember Dessert
Make sure you have an easy, accessible dessert picked out. Few rational human beings will refuse fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, whether they’re from scratch or a box. The same goes for brownies or even muffins or cake if you’re feeling adventurous. Dessert is yours for the choosing, and it’s hard to go wrong — either knock it out of the park with something homemade or bring it home with something easy and delicious.
Be Chill
Mistakes happen, unknowns rear their heads and sometimes, dinner doesn’t go as planned. Be ready to roll with whatever happens. Be prepared to joke about messing up in the kitchen, or have a Plan B in case something throws a wrench in the works. Showing you’re rolling with it and still having a great time can salvage most situations.
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