Now Streaming Valentine’s Day Guide: Beats & Eats

Image Credit: HCR.com

 Say goodbye to the traditional Valentine’s Day card and tasteless chocolates for good. In this combined post with food blogger Samantha Grasso of The Homegrown Tomato we have prepared the perfect guide for a romantic date right in your dining room. Our drink selections were provided by poker player and wine geek Adam Bitker.

The Dish: Fresh & Clean Shrimp Tacos
The Wine: Alsace Riesling
The Soundtrack: It Takes a Thief  by Thievery Corporation

Image Credit: Flyguychronicles.com

Valentine’s Day. They call it the Hallmark holiday because of it’s popularity and the ridiculous amount of wasteful spending that comes along with it. Billions of dollars are spent on temporary greeting cards, poorly raised flowers and tasteless candies each year. After years of routine discovering new ways to capture the loving energy without feeding the cliche becomes the yearly challenge. Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day with a special someone or a close friend, nothing says I love you like a home-cooked meal surrounded by stabilizing music and fine wine. With the help of some good friends I am happy to present the Now Streaming Valentine’s Day Guide: Beats & Eats. Embellish your dining room table with Natural Love soy candles topped with eco-friendly rose petals and get ready to embrace Valentine’s Day like cupid intended.

Music

The best dinner music is something subtle and sweet. Ever since the mid 90’s Thievery Corporation has delivered some of the best production in electronic music. Their spacey downtempo blends jazz, world and hip-hop sounds creating the perfect ambiance for a romantic dinner for two. Their 2010 release “It Takes a Thief”  is a 16 track compilation featuring the duo’s greatest songs. It is long enough to play during the entire duration of your date leaving room for a romantic post-dinner dance. The smooth listen allows for tasteful dinner conversation or perhaps even an exchange of something sweet like homemade bath salts for her and beach stone drink chillers for him. (Hey, something sustainable and new never hurts!)

Dinner & Wine 

For dinner consider something simple and fun. Impress your valentine with this Fresh & Clean Shrimp Taco recipe provided by The Homegrown Tomato. Don’t forget to top off your dish with a crisp glass of Alsace Riesling.  If the light taste of this French wine does not work for you consider a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or a Gruner Veltiner from Austria. Adam Bitker says a dry wine is just what you need.

Fresh & Clean Shrimp Tacos
Makes 6 tacos

Ingredients:

2 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ tsp chili powder
extra virgin olive oil
18 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
1 ripe tomato, diced (if out of season you can use a red or green pepper instead for some crunch and sweetness)
½ cucumber, diced
handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
small corn tortillas (as many as you need, you can use one for each taco or double up)
salt and pepper to taste
optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, plain Greek yogurt

Prepare all taco toppings. On medium low, heat olive oil in a small pan. Add garlic, saute for another minute. Toss in shrimp and saute for 2-3 minutes, until shrimp turn bright pink. Remove from heat immediately so they do not overcook. Once cool, dice shrimp into chunks.

To warm tortillas, place them between two moist paper towels and microwave for 30-45 seconds or until they feel warm and pliable.

Divide the veggies and shrimp equally and assemble the tacos. Sprinkle with cilantro and cheese.

Great additional toppings include salsa and plain Greek yogurt.

Enjoy!

Food images were taken and provided by Samantha Grasso of The Homegrown Tomato. Featured Image Credit: Ben Brown via Google

Follow Now Streaming: The Radio Stevie Music Blog for music streams, downloads and more. You don’t want to miss our NEW holiday Beats & Eats posts. Up next, St. Patrick’s Day!