Valentine's Day Idea: Sur La Table's Romantic Cooking Classes

Here's the thing about Valentine's Day: you either love it or you hate it.

The hopeless romantics out there are hoping for chocolates, flowers, and or a nice couple's activity like dinner or a spa day from your other half. For those on the other end of the spectrum, you're just going along with the plans because you know it matters to the romantics in your life.

Well, it's time for that to come to an end. If there's one thing you can both agree on, it's that you have to eat, right? Instead of booking reservations at an overpriced and stuffy restaurant, why not cook together with your better half?

Sur La Table is the answer. With the same class schedule from coast to coast — you can take the same cooking class in New York that you can in Los Angeles — couples across the country can get in the kitchen.

We decided to take this for a test spin and headed to a Yonkers, N.Y., Sur La Table cooking class where we were lucky to have chef Mike Proietti, an alum of The Next Food Network Star as our instructor.

We were arranged in groups of four and six, with the groups made up of people of all experience levels, from masters in the kitchen to those who had never boiled water. Trust us, some laughs ensued.
Proietti owned the class with his whimsical attitude, conversational approach, and hands-on demonstrations.

While the menu is the same at every Sur La Table location (so it's fair to all students and couples) Proietti definitely made it his own and made couples feel very comfortable in the kitchen.

Here's what we learned to whip up for our delicious meal

Winter Squash Ravioli with Sage Butter Sauce
Seared New York Strip Steak with a Chianti-Mushroom Sauce
Arugula Salad with Beets, Goat Cheese, and Pine Nuts
Chocolate and Orange Cannoli

While we cooked everything on the menu, Proietti gave us a true treat: pizza bianca with ricotta, his grandmother's recipe that was a fantastic start to a great evening.

So when you're deciding on your valentine's day plans, think of spending it together in the kitchen!