34 Comments
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Emily Fedner's avatar

Starting us off - my favorite dish to make is shrimp scampi. If I'm pulling out all the stops I'll make fresh pasta (tagliatelle) but otherwise I love mafaldine, linguine or even spaghetti

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Shannon's avatar

shrimp scampi was my first thought, too! something about it feels fancy but still accessible enough to cook at home.

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Iz's avatar

Ohhhh recipe please for the scampi!!

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Casey's avatar

Carbonara. Everyone thinks it’s fancy but it’s easy, impressive & if they don’t like pasta then you can take them off the suitor list

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Emily Fedner's avatar

have never agreed with a comment more. worried about carbs? please leave my home

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Ashwani's avatar

But like if it takes a 3rd date to find out about whether they like pasta, what are you even talking abt on the first 2 dates then 👀

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Emily Fedner's avatar

Honestly, solid point. I’d have sussed out this info within the first hour and potentially prior to even meeting

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Shannon's avatar

YESSSSS and the ingredients are also pantry staples. We were low on groceries the other day so I whipped up a carbonara and my bf was super impressed.

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Lauren's avatar

i like to make risotto! it seems fancy, it’s sort of like a fun stand and talk and stir situation and he can see how strong and good at stirring you are, it’s an excuse to open a bottle of wine, and it’s open to so many mix-ins! (why do i only date men who don’t like mushrooms???)

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Emily Fedner's avatar

Not liking mushrooms might be a deal breaker tbh

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Minell Karimi's avatar

Also dating a non mushroom guy and it is TOUGH

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Allison M.'s avatar

on an early date with my current boyfriend, i made tonkatsu (japanese pork cutlets)! it was a fun activity since i could draft him to help with breading all the cutlets, and it was something unique to my culture that he had never tried!

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Emily Fedner's avatar

Amazing on all fronts. What did you guys eat them with??

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Amanda's avatar

I prepare a sushi spread! My uncle is Japanese. He taught me how to make it when I was growing up. Depending on the audience, I’d do California rolls, tamago, inari, umeboshi, salmon or tuna. It’s fun to make the rolls together! I also get pocky and rice crackers to nibble on before.

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Emily Fedner's avatar

Sounds like I wanna date you???

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Deepti's avatar

Rib eye steak (med/Med rare) with sautéed bok choy and cilantro chimmichurri (with so much garlic). And of course a side of gab. I also can never go wrong with a garlic & oil pasta

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Emily Fedner's avatar

Oh baby

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Erica Freeman's avatar

Shrimp Alfredo, my boyfriend loves it and I can easily make it dairy free for me!

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Emily Fedner's avatar

My dad’s favorite too!

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Shannon's avatar

What a fun question! My favorite date dish isn’t very complicated but tastes like it is! A caprese pasta bake with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red peppers and spinach, all topped with fresh basil. I usually use Banza chickpea pasta!

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Emily Fedner's avatar

Love a bake. It’s unfussy and delicious!

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Suzanne Sena's avatar

My go-to impressive but easy-to-make meal has always been chicken piccata with a side of angel hair pasta. The lemon and capers make it seem so light, and it’s a great excuse to make use of that “ok” bottle of white wine- and then open a great one (I love the Kings Estate Pinot Gris!) I used to always serve this dish alongside a baked garlic-stuffed tomato (until now bc my hubby hates baked tomatoe with a passion). What was cool about the tomato is you could mush it up and it was an instant fresh pasta sauce. Super simple, fresh and delicious- and topped with lemon and parsley it looks like it was cooked by a pro!

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sami's avatar

I wooed my current partner with my well loved family recipes- my nonna’s pasta and rosemary chicken, homemade curry, and Finnish meatballs!

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Emily Fedner's avatar

YUM. i want curry

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Justo E. Karell's avatar

Sadness with a side agony. Not from Rome but I use a lot of salt and pepper.

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Emily Fedner's avatar

lol

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Christina R's avatar

Tacos 🌮 you can’t go wrong!

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Arielle's avatar

The best margharita pizza ever! Crust recipe is from Sally's Baking Addiction blog + homemade marinara sauce + cheese from the deli.

The dough only needs an hour to rise, but you can definitely let it rise longer.

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Marce's avatar

Strip steak au poivre

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Mia E's avatar

367227% my linguine vongole. White wine? Clams? Carbs?? Say less. In a directly related fact, happily in love twelve years later 🦪 (yes that's an oyster but it's closest I could find, lol)

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Caroline C's avatar

On our ur first non-distanced date (we live in such weird times) my boyfriend prepped everything for spring rolls which was so cute. It was a fun little activity, it wouldn’t have been too intimidating if I wasn’t confident in the kitchen, and it was delicious of course.

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Allison Komara's avatar

Homemade gnocchi/ gnudi! Fun activity and seems impressive, though a little messy. If I’m trying hard I’ll do it multiple ways and make a couple sauces.

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Jorge A. Reyes's avatar

I made my now-girlfriend Michael Chiarello's chicken pastina soup. it's delicious, there aren't too many steps, so it allows you to prep and cook while you're having conversation. Anything too intricate, with too many steps, you end up disappearing to cook.

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Lex's avatar

Date night means i don’t want to be cooking, so we go out! But it’s always for Thai!!! Rad nah, pad see ew, crispy pork belly…Heaven!

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