Let’s face it, dating can be exhausting. Whether you’re on a perpetual string of dead end first meetings or you’re trying to come up with something, anything new to do with your long time partner, it’s time to buck the pressure of the wow factor and get back to basics. Quality time spent together over a lovely meal (and the always flattering glow of candlelight) can be just the right fresher-upper for date nights gone stale.

Whether you shop for dinner at the greenmarket or in your takeout menu drawer, these simple tips will make your date night in a smashing success.

1. Skip the garlic and raw onions. While everyone loves garlic, no one wants to smell it when they lean in for the goodnight kiss. Or depending on your date, the next morning when it’s still coming out your pores.

2. Keep it simple. You don’t need to pull out all the stops and make a complicated dish like Beef Wellington or Baked Alaska. Buy fresh, quality ingredients and produce that is in season and you won’t have to fuss too much to get great flavor out of your dish.

3. Shortcuts are okay! Pick up a few different cheeses, a baguette, and some fresh fruit to start or finish your meal. You don’t have to spend hours making mini quiche hors d’ouevres and stuffed mushrooms to impress. For dessert, grab some artisanal gelato and top it with berries and honey for a tasty treat that takes no time.

4. Think about food that is wine-friendly and won’t take a sommelier to come up with a pairing. Really spicy dishes and boldly seasoned preparations can overwhelm what’s in the glass. You can’t go wrong with classic pairings like buttery seafood with Chardonnay, Poultry or mushrooms with Pinot Noir, or a juicy steak with a big California Cab.

5. Do yourself a favor and prep what you can in advance. Whether this means chopping veggies or making a sauce that can be reheated, you’ll thank yourself later when you’re not breaking a sweat over the pile of dishes in the sink when the doorbell rings. And don’t forget to pour yourself a glass of something to sip on while you stir, saute, and simmer.

Wine Flirt’s foolproof recipe…

Date Night Pasta: This is a super simple dish that can be adapted according to your taste and what’s in season. Swap the shrimp for other seafood or even poultry depending on your preference. Or leave it out entirely for a vegetarian version. Add asparagus, fresh corn or whatever looks good at the market to keep it seasonal. Swap the lemon for an orange, the tomatoes for spinach and sliced fennel and you have a brand new batch of flavors!

You’ll Need:
12 oz. pasta, like penne or farfalle
3/4 lb. of raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 lemon
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
3 tablespoons basil leaves, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons Italian parsley, finely chopped
Salt and pepper

1. Cook the pasta according to the direction on the package in salted water. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat a saute pan over medium heat and add two tablespoons of butter. When melted, zest one lemon into the butter. Juice the lemon and add to the pan. Bring the juices just to a simmer and add the whole tomatoes all at once. Cook them over medium heat just until they start to split, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the cleaned and peeled shrimp to the pan with the tomatoes and cook just until the shrimp are opaque and pink, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add the remaining two tablespoons of butter to thicken the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Toss the shrimp and tomato mixture with the cooked pasta until coated. Sprinkle the chopped parsley and basil over the pasta mixture and serve.

Drink this with it!
The acidity from the tomato and lemon, the sweetness of the shrimp, and the creaminess from the butter in the sauce work really well with an unoaked Chardonnay like Scarpantoni Estates 2005 Chardonnay from Australia.