What would you cook for an indulgent dinner for two?

[JemimaPyjamas]

It is a significant birthday for DH next week and I am going to cook. I want something that is easy but indulgent and also not something we would normally have. If it can also be prepared in advance that is even better!

I initially thought of duck but I have now gone off that idea. We often have steak so that's not appealing either. I'm not keen on fish or anything that is looking at me.

Other than that, I'm open to suggestions!!

How about
Starter courgette fritters with wholegrain mustard and honey dip.
Pork tenderloin wrapped in Parma ham, with generate broccoli, bubble and squeak and a mustard and cider cream sauce.
A creme brulee

Tenderstem broccoli

Do you like seafood - king prawns, scallops etc?

Needs to be cooked and eaten straight away but takes minutes.

Just fry, deglaze with a splash of white wine or fizz and add a bit of cream to finish, serve with crusty bread and may be a side salad, a bag of baby leaves and some baby tomatoes would be good. Maybe add chips if you want a more substantial meal.

Plus ready made pud or go the whole hog and get a M&S Dine in deal or similar.

Duck parfait to start with sourdough and tomatoe chutney
Rack of lamb with salsa verde and potato dauphinois, green beans

I don’t like puddings so it would and a cheese board

Guinea fowl. You just treat it like a small roast chicken.

My favourite meal is roasted leg of lamb studded with garlic and rosemary, slow cooked but with crispy skin, dauphinoise potatoes and asparagus.

I'd definitely have a panna cotta of some sort with a fruit coulis to break up the richness - but I'd probably cheat and buy an M&S one as they are pretty good

Slow cooked lamb shanks - cook ahead then reheat
Dauphinois potatoes - prepare ahead then whack into oven on the day
Green veg on the side

Chocolate mousse or tiramisu for dessert

Pork Medallions with a whole grain mustard sauce with mini jackets pots

The medallions just melt in your mouth

Oh god, these ALL sound good!

It depends what he likes really. My dh would be made up with olives while I cook. He also loves deep fried feta cheese parcels so sometimes I do that as a starter. A really good steak with peppercorn sauce, big onion rings, chunky chips and plenty of crusty bread. Apple pie and custard and possibly a cheeseboard He likes his food and plenty of it though.

I’d do a seafood linguine. When you say fish do you also mean sea food? If not then linguine done with garlic, chilli and olive oil and then different sea foods stirred in, prawns, salmon, mussels etc With garlic bread on th side and a big salad dressed with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Takes a few mins and is delicious.

And for afters a cheese board. Unless you wish dessert.

Braised short rib with some dauphinoise potatoes or some creamy wholegrain mustard mash...and some veg on the side, maybe pan-fried asparagus. Yum!

DH cooked full English "breakfast" for me.

Rarely eaten, easy to do and absolutely bloody delicious 😋😁

Starter: baked Camembert with garlic, tasted baguette to dip, and red onion chutney.

Main: medium rare sirloin steak, dauphinois potatoes, pan fried tender stem broccoli, large baked mushrooms with mozzarella and garlic.

Dessert: homemade cheesecake of some form.

To start, or as nibbles with champagne - smoked salmon and caviar on blinis. To follow- french trimmed rack of lamb with dauphinoise potatoes and seasonal veg and/or a salad. To finish - chocolate roulade with really good quality ice cream.

Beef wellington with homemade mushroom duxelle. Can be prepared in advance and popped into the oven.

Mini pavlovas, made in advance, topped with whipped cream, mixed with yoghurt and a tiny bit of sugar (not quite as rich as just cream) plus fresh berries and raspberry coulis. You can make up all the parts in advance then assemble just before serving!

I was going to suggest duck and cherry sauce.

Do you have a slow cooker?

Two ham hocks in a 50/50 water and cider leave all day, just before serving use the liquid to make a sauce. Serve with mash and green beans

Starter - melon and parma ham

Pud - lemon cheese cake

My special occasion food is prawn risotto with champagne, or scallops cooked with black pudding. Literally just fry them and then we serve with red pesto pasta.

Watching with interest!!!! Its DPs birthday on 18th and he won't let me buy him anything for it... however i could cook him a lovely meal...

Only problem is I'm a terrible cook, but these meals sound just lovely! Sorry op, im likely to steal some of these ideas too

Individual smoked salmon terrines to start. Individual beef Wellingtons with dauphinois potatoes. Raspberry and champagne (or cava) possets with little love heart biscuits

Sorry didn't see that you often have steak. Waitrose do these lovely sea bass fillets with a pesto butter I often serve these on top of a risotto. Loads of flavour and looks great but really simple

Last week I cooked pork leg steaks using this BBC recipe, it was delicious. I used a cooking apple so obviously it went mushy, but was still fine. We had McCain's French fries with it (as well as lots of green veg) and DP said it was like a good restaurant meal!

Only problem is I'm a terrible cook, but these meals sound just lovely!

Get a raclette.

Buy some nice steak, put out plates with sliced emmental, sliced onion, mushrooms, peppers, boiled potatoes, an egg whisked and cook at the table. Make sure it's a 'raclette grill' not the one that just melts cheese.

Stuffed mushrooms or salmon pate to start.

Stuffed chicken breasts served on a bed of mange toute, baby sweet corn, tenderstem etc with some sort of potatoes (whatever is your favourite)

Cheesecake, creme brulee, crumble and custard

Genuinely loving how the op said no steak or fish and posters are suggesting steak or fish,,😃