Taking your loved one out for dinner on Valentine’s Day is a lovely romantic gesture – but restaurants can be busy, overpriced and it usually means someone has to drive! This 14th February, why not stay in with a special heart-themed meal?
We’ve tracked down the best serving, baking and mixing dishes for that perfect gesture.
1. Sweet heart bowl, Sagaform
Designed by Ulva Olsson, this heart-shaped stoneware bowl is as sweet as its name. Ideal for serving pre-dinner snacks or post-dinner chocolates or petit fours, it’s also available in a large, serving bowl size. This little version would also make a lovely gift, filled with favourite sweets or handmade chocolates. £9.99, available from The Scandinavian Shop.
2. Heart-shaped baking dishes, Gisela Graham
Doubling up as serving or baking dishes, use these for vegetables or side dishes, or to bake a special heart shaped pie or pudding. In a selection of three pastel colours with polka dot design, these pretty heart shaped dishes are perfect for adding a splash of colour to the kitchen, as well. £12 each, available from The Contemporary Home.
3. Heart bowl with ladle, Sagaform
This is a heart-shaped stoneware serving bowl with eco friendly bamboo ladle by Sagaform of Sweden, complete with a heart-shaped ladle so you can get right into the corners. Perfect for serving almost anything from vegetables to fruit salad. £30.50, available from Cloudberry Living.
4. Pink heart mixing bowl, Gisela Graham
Cakes and puddings will taste better when mixed in this pretty ceramic bowl in soft pink with a heart design. It’s practical too, generously sized and nice and sturdy. When you’ve not using it for mixing, it would also look nice on a kitchen counter filled with fruit. £18 from The Contemporary Home.
5. Pink silicone heart-shaped cupcake cases, Katie Alice
These unusual cupcake cases mean you can bake heart-shaped cakes for the ideal romantic afternoon tea, making the whole day special. As they’re silicone, cakes will turn out in a perfect heart shape ready for decorating. £6.99 for a set of 12, see Creative Tops for stockists.
6. White ceramic heart dish, rigby & mac
Ideal for serving sauces, nibbles or chocolates, this heart-shaped ceramic bowl will grace any Valentine’s table. After the big day, it would make a nice holder for keys or jewellery. £4.95, available from rigby & mac.
7. Set of three sunset heart bowls, Oliver Bonas
A set of three, ceramic heart shaped nesting bowls, these will add splashes of orange, pale pink and grey to your afternoon tea or dinner party. They’d also be perfect as gifts as little trinkets bowls for jewellery, make up or any other bits and pieces. £15 for the set from Oliver Bonas.
8. Ornate small heart jug, Live laugh love
Serve hot or cold sauces from this sweet little ceramic jug with scrolling and heart detail. At just 9cm high, it would also be ideal for holding a posy of flowers for the middle of the table or to decorate a ‘breakfast in bed’ tray. £3.95 from live laugh love.
9. Large hammered heart dish, Culinary Concepts
Serve delicious chocolates after dinner on a plate that says it all – this hammered silver-plated heart dish will really help to set the scene, and looks lovely reflecting candle light on the dinner table. Also available in two smaller sizes, it costs £45 from IN SPACES.
10. Heart ice cream spoons, Alessi
Designed by Mirri Miriam, this set of four heart shaped spoons is manufactured from a high quality polished stainless steel and designed to last. Just add Haagen Daas ice cream for the perfect end to the meal. Available from Design 55, £19.80 for a set of four.
By Sara Walker