The perfect date night is at home, snuggled on the sofa, with a juicy steak, a bottle of wine and phones out of sight, say modern couples.
Forget dressing up and jostling for a restaurant reservation, more than half of couples (62 %) say when it comes to spending quality time, home is where the heart is. And the most romantic date night dinner emerged as a juicy steak (30 %), followed by a spicy chicken tikka masala (22 %), and in third place, a lasagne (20 %). Other meals which get us in the mood for love include fish pie (12 %), macaroni cheese (12 %), and spaghetti carbonara (12 %), according to the 2,000 couples surveyed.
Music plays a big part too. For the one in ten couples who can’t resist a slow dance in the kitchen, John Legend (29 %), Elton John (16 %) and Marvin Gaye (11 %), top the at-home playlists.
Other components for the PERFECT date night at home include mood lighting (19 %), candles (26 %), romantic movies (28 %) – and making sure the kids are at sleepovers (13 %). Sharing a pudding (16 %), laying the table nicely (14 %) and games of scrabble (10 %), are also ingredients for love.
The survey was commissioned by Charlie Bigham’s, to celebrate the launch of its new Brasserie range for two.
For 77 % of romantics, regular date nights are a must, with three nights a month considered the sweet spot for keeping the spark alive. Food is at the centre of it all, with 86 % saying it’s the most important part of a date night. More than half (51 %) say staying in makes it easier to talk, 36 % feel more relaxed, and 56 % enjoy saving a bit of money in the process.
A spokesperson for Charlie Bigham’s said; “The results show that food really is the heart of the home date night. Couples are increasingly looking to recreate the restaurant experience at home – not just for special occasions, but as part of their date nights or monthly treats. “Our Brasserie range offers restaurant-quality dishes designed to make these evenings effortless yet memorable. From hand-crafted Beef Wellingtons to indulgent Coq au Vin, the range has been created to bring that same sense of occasion into the home.”
THE FORMULA FOR THE PERFECT DATE NIGHT, ACCORDING TO COUPLES:
- In the comfort of your home – 48%
- Sharing a meal together – 40%
- Cuddling on the sofa under a blanket – 35%
- Sharing a bottle of wine – 28%
- Watching a romantic movie – 28%
- Lighting candles – 26%
- Turning phones off – 22%
- Mood lighting – 19%
- Discussing future trips away – 19%
- Eye contact – 18%
- Sharing a pudding – 16%
- Fresh flowers – 15%
- Laying the table nicely – 14%
- A carefully curated playlist – 13%
- Making sure the kids are at sleepovers – 13%
- Sharing a nightcap – 12%
- Stargazing with a blanket wrapped around you – 12%
- Sharing cheese – 11%
- Slow dancing in the kitchen – 10%
- A game of Scrabble – 10%
TOP DATE NIGHT DINNERS, ACCORDING TO COUPLES:
- A juicy steak – 30%
- Chicken tikka masala – 22%
- Lasagne – 20%
- Beef Wellington – 17%
- Beef Bourguignon – 14%
- Chicken Parmigiana – 13%
- Fish pie – 12%
- Macaroni cheese – 12%
- Spaghetti carbonara – 12%
- Salmon Wellington – 11%
- Thai green curry – 11%
- Chicken Biriyani – 11%
- Spaghetti Bolognese – 11%
- Shepherd’s pie – 10%
- Steak and ale pie – 10%
- Chicken Kyiv – 10%
- Chilli – 9%
- French onion soup – 9%
- Prawn and scallop risotto – 8%
- Chicken, ham and leek pie – 8%