Host a Hot Gathering for Your Singles Pals (or doubles) this Valentine’s Day

As with all major holidays, we are bombarded, whether we like it or not.  If you are pining for someone, newly into a hot romance, on the cusp of life changing love or going steady, Valentine’s Day might boost your spirits. BUT, if you are single, breaking up, or unhappy, you are likely cursing all the red, pink, glittery lovey-dovey pressure laid upon you.

You could avoid almost all types of media, water cooler conversations and packed restaurants this coming Monday. Or, you could harness the energy of the occasion and throw a Valentine’s Day soirée for all… those honoring love and those cursing it.

No matter what the occasion, champagne, chocolate and some decadent, first rate, savory bites are a good reason to gather the coven. To satisfy matters of the heart, I suggest a Valentine’s Day ritual to make it all the more experiential. Put a metal bowl near the entrance of the party with paper and red ink pens. Each guest must write their heart’s intentions on the paper, fold it up and place it in the bowl.  Late into the night, when palates are twinkling and champagne has bubbled over rims, gather around the candles and light the papers on fire boosting each person’s desires into the ether for the energies of the universe to have and to hold.

Send out an evite, shop this weekend and you’ll easily pull together a shindig by Monday evening.  Below are some ideas to inspire you and get you started.

MENU FOR Love BITES & SIPS

Fresh Ricotta with Olive Oil and Dark Chocolate

Bacon Bar and Chorizo Stuffed Dates with Spicy Oaxaca Red Sauce

Dark Chocolate, Nicoise Olive, Prosciutto & Buffalo Mozzarella Panini

Aphrodisiac Truffles

Pink Rose Kir Royale Cocktail

1 cup sugar, organic
1 cup water
2 tablespoons rose water
Rose champagne, your favorite
Le Chocolat en Rose Truffles, Vosges Haut-Chocolat

Heat water in a pan until near boiling. Stir in the sugar until it dissolves, creating a simple syrup.  Let cool. Stir in 2 tablespoons of rose water. Pour Rose Water syrup into each flute filling 1/5 of the glass, you may need more rose water syrup depending on your taste.   Drop one La Vie en Rose truffle into the bottom of each glass and top off with champagne rose.  The dried rose petals covering the dark chocolate truffle will rehydrate and some may confetti the cocktail.  The dark chocolate champagne center will be waiting for you at the bottom to accompany your last sip.

Blessed be the hearts.

A letter from my friend David Romanelli with whom I created Yoga + Chocolate.  David is excited to share something new: Yoga for Foodies beginning next Friday in NYC. Here’s a letter from David:

I recall being out to dinner with a friend who proceeded to take my food and splice n’ dice it into many small pieces. It turns out the woman had two small children and was so accustomed to the duties of motherhood, she assumed I needed my food prepared in child-size digestible chunks. Such is life in today’s world where every little thing is spliced n’ diced into quick tweets, short videos, and brief emails. Anything too big or too lengthy is an instant delete.

Have you ever considered that the speed and need for efficiency and brevity has gotten the best of us?  Who has time to indulge in big, sweeping thoughts or savor profoundly delicious meals? I invite you to step out of the rocketing comet of life and into an oasis of deliciousness and relaxation. This Friday, January 22 in New York City is the launch of Yoga for Foodies. Honoring the Slow Food movement’s plea for a more sustainable pace and system, the evening will begin with my flowing yoga class followed by a guided meal with New York City’s renowned vegan chef Joy Pierson of Candle 79.
Visit here for more on this Friday’s NYC event.

Namaste

David Romanelli
www.YogaforFoodies.com