Judith Martin, the writer known famously as ‘Miss Manners,’ once aptly noted “There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection IS the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted.”

With that sentiment in mind, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we asked our cookbook authors to share memories of their most romantic meal. Here’s what they said:  

My Most Romantic Meal

Caviar and Toast Points

Caviar (sturgeon or salmon) eaten right out of the tin on plastic spoons with my wife, Barbara’s, amazing toast points. (To make the toast points, brush Pepperidge Farm thin-sliced white bread with butter on both sides and grill or bake until golden and crisp). One year I smoked the caviar, using a Smoking Gun, a handheld smoker. That was pretty amazing, too.  

—Steven Raichlen, author of Barbecue Sauces, Rubs, and Marinades

The Pasta Incident

The first time I cooked dinner for my now-partner, I utterly failed at making dried pasta from a box. How can you replicate this romantic meal, you might ask? I will share my secret: Trust the package cooking time to a fault and allow the pasta to clump together as it simmers in too little under-salted water. You can gauge your potential partner’s suitability by his or her reaction to this meal. (No fair lowering expectations beforehand). I have largely bounced back from The Pasta Incident, but occasional good-natured reminders keep my ego in check.

—Daniel Shumski, author of Will It Skillet? 

Caviar, Potato Chips, & Krug

My most romantic meal has to be Cape Cod potato chips dunked in caviar with a bottle of Krug.

—Alison Cayne, author of The Haven’s Kitchen Cooking School

Souvlaki & The Godfather

My most romantic meal was eating take away souvlaki while watching the Godfather the night before I got engaged. My husband had been trying to take me out on a special date all weekend to propose but I was making his life REALLY difficult. It wasn’t until the next day when he actually proposed that I realized how terribly I had messed up his plans. I find the fact that he ended up compromising to accommodate my mood instead of proposing to me the most romantic thing. Definitely a dinner never to be forgotten. Here’s a good souvlaki recipe for those interested in trying at home.

—Alexandra Stratou, author of Cooking with Loula

Coeur a la crème

Just thinking about Valentine’s Day (and it’s fictional counterpart, Gal-entine’s Day) makes me happy. It’s a celebration. And for a special occasion, nothing is better than a meal made of memories. For me, the most romantic dessert of all, coeur a la crème, fits the bill. It’s sweet and made sweeter with perfectly ripe, in-season strawberries, and has always been on my February 14th menu. That it’s shaped like a heart is just a bonus. To me, it’s the ideal mid-winter indulgence, and reminds me of past holidays. 

—Rachael Narins, author of Cast-Iron Cooking