Last month, I had two solo dates that went really well. For the first one, I took myself to a pumpkin festival near Zurich. For my second one, I cooked a three course dinner for one. This solo date was the most challenging yet rewarding experience for me. Although it seemed pretty straightforward in my head when I was planning it, I didn’t estimate how long it would take me to whip up all the dishes.
Do you ever get that feeling when you finish cooking and you just don’t feel hungry to eat? Yeah, I’m that person and that’s what happened that night. After four hours of cooking and three hours of buying and setting everything up, I was ready to fall asleep. Moving the solo three course dinner to the next day was the best decision. I was able to enjoy it more and be proud of this new accomplishment.
Why Have A Dinner For One?
One of the most beautiful things about solo dating is that you can do it both inside and outside. It challenges you to be more creative with the types of dates that you do. Solo dating pushes you to build more self confidence as you explore your interests at your own pace. Lastly, it’s a journey of self-exploration that teaches you how to enjoy your own company more. This solo date dinner for one came with its own challenges. I chose meals that I had never cooked before but what I got out of it was worth it. I developed new cooking techniques. It reminded me of some childhood memories of why I enjoyed baking in the first place. Moreover, I got to use my table for the very reason why I bought it instead of it housing my screens for my 9 to 5.
So if you have thought about doing a dinner for one as solo date but you aren’t sure how it will turn out…Let me share my experience with you. Hopefully, it will convince you to give it a try.
How To Start Dating Yourself
The first thing about dating yourself is accepting and understanding that you don’t need a romantic partner to have a great time. You don’t need a romantic partner to go on a holiday, or to try out a new restaurant. You don’t need a friend to explore a new city or go out to the cinema. There are activities that you can do on your own without taking someone else’s interests and preferences into account.
The second thing about dating yourself is looking at it as an investment. That investment can look like creating a journalling practice or nourishing your body with the right foods. It can look like taking care of your physical health, splurging on yourself or doing something completely new.
The third thing about dating yourself is that this is where the magic lies. It’s a mini-celebration for realising that you are pretty great company for yourself. We live in a world that tells us to prioritise connection with one another. However, it does not tell us it’s also okay to prioritise connection with ourselves. As well as being a celebration of the self, it is also a revolutionary act of intentionally pausing and enjoying the luxury of time with yourself.
Make It Special For You
As I always cook my meals for myself, I wanted this solo date to be special and different. My dining table at home is housed by multiple screens as I work 100% remote. I rarely eat there to ensure that there is a separation from work and home.
For this solo date dinner, I knew that I wanted to eat on the table. The first thing that I did was plan the layout of the table and the type of decor that I wanted. Candles brought some coziness and elegance to the dinner. A red table cloth brings out that luxury and premium vibe that I had envisioned. Next, yellow serviettes were used to complement the red table cloth and gold on the candle bra. Then once I had finalised my menu earlier in the week, I created it on Canva. That cemented my commitment to the date.
One of the rules that I have for all my solo dates in order to create that perfect dating experience is to treat it as a proper date and show myself love. I get dressed up in an outfit, do my hair and my makeup. Even though I was not leaving my house, those rules were still honoured.
While I was cooking the courses, I switched on one of my favourite playlists and had a good time. In my opinion, the preparation is part of the solo date and you should aim to have fun doing it. A lot of singing and dancing happened that night and it was peaceful. Those hours were spent on me and I was able to have quality time with myself.
Dinner For One Courses
For my appetiser, I wanted to try a seasonal vegetable and I chose Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. It tasted so good! Roasting the vegetables beforehand definitely added this firewood taste to it. I’m going to be adopting this technique whenever I make Nigerian stew. This isn’t the first time that I’ve made something with this vegetable. In the past, I’ve made butternut squash curry and butternut squash boats.
For my main meal I wanted a dish that I would never eat at home. Whenever I go out to restaurants and lamb shank is on the menu, I always order it because I love it when the meat falls off the bone. I wanted to create that feeling at home. The lamb was paired with lemon butter mashed potatoes and green beans.
Dessert
For dessert, I chose a classic apple pie with whipped cream. Growing up apple crumble was the staple dessert regardless of the season and occasion. Apple crumble is very easy to make but fruit pies is something that I was not introduced to until adulthood. Choosing this dessert meant that I was learning new baking skills. Store bought pastries either doesn’t exist or is very hard to find in Switzerland. Therefore I opted to make the pie crust and the filling. I devoured that apple pie within a week! That’s how good it was. Lastly I made a cranberry mocktail as my drink of choice.
This was such a great solo date experience and I’m happy that I was able to pull it off! The next time this comes up as a date option, I know how to manage my time better. Give this solo date dinner a try if you don’t know what to do next. Let me know in the comments how it goes. Make sure to hit that subscribe button to join the community and never miss out on a post. Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok for more powerlifting and wellness content.
Until next time
Folakemi
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