All Courses Lavender

An easy romantic meal inspired by my grandparents' life-long romance. It's a man-pleasing meal, a big steak with fried potatoes and at the end, crème brûlée. Lavender plays in all three but is light and surprising, not in the least bit overpowering. When my grandfather was courting my grandmother in the spring of 1920, he posted a soggy box of woodland violets still clumped in their forest-floor dirt. (Never mind that she was away at college and engaged to her high school sweetheart.) His romantic spirit reaped rich reward: four children and 29 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. With Valentine’s Day falling on a Tuesday, reservations are the easy answer. But this year, consider romancing your sweetheart with an almost-as-easy special meal cooked at home. Just shop for groceries and make the crème brulee on the Monday, then make quick work of the potatoes and steaks after work on Tuesday. Add a simple salad and a bottle of good wine: