Creating a romantic dinner for your significant other does not require you to be a romantic superstar. But the presentation and what you would offer really counts, so it’s best to study and prepare for the meal.

Regardless of whether you’re cooking a romantic dinner yourself or purchasing prepared food, the secret is in the ambience. Clean the place up beforehand and borrow flatware and china if you have to. Choose the right stemware for the wine you intend to serve. Borrow your friend’s tablecloth for this special evening if you have never used any good ones before.

Do some research. Lifestyle magazines are wonderful resources for table settings and dinner menus. Some even offer recipes on everything from the appetizer to the dessert. It’s best to make a grocery list of everything you need to have everything at hand on your date.

Condiments, utensils, containers – these are items that are often overlooked but are sorely missed at dinnertime, especially if you don’t regularly cook.

Keep it simple. Don’t attempt to prepare a five-course meal if you’re going to be too ornery afterwards. One or two main courses should do the job, and you can simply buy dessert from a pastry shop and top it off with ice cream in her fave flavor.

Remember, too many dishes would take a lot of prep time even if they’re bought cooked. You have to heat (or chill) and plate each one immediately prior to serving.

To avoid spending all your time at the kitchen while she waits for ages on the couch with a warming glass of aperitif, pre-cook some of the dishes beforehand. Some meals can be stored in the ref overnight and simply heated prior to your dinner date.

Know her preferences. Being aware that she’s a vegetarian is one thing, knowing the types of food she’s allergic to or whether she likes things spicy or not is another. If you have been dating for a long time, you should by now know that she prefers to have soup or if she always has to have a vegetable salad before the main or course.

In addition, what you prefer may not exactly please her the way it does you. For instance, a 4.5-pound, 1.5-inch thick rib-eye steak may be to your liking but could overwhelm her. You could perhaps prepare that for yourself and offer her a smaller cut of fillet mignon.

Don’t forget to include tried-and-tested aphrodisiacs in your dishes: oysters, asparagus, strawberries, oysters, honey, and grapes.

Set the mood. Before she arrives, light several candles or get the fireplace going. They help create a romantic ambience and their heat captures the moment.

Pop in a few CDs in your player. Choose her preferences, not yours! If you need to burn a compilation of her favorite mellow songs, then do so beforehand so you won’t have to keep leaving the dinner table to change CDs.

They say that the mood is enhanced using all the senses, so apart from creating a feast for the eyes, titillate her sense of smell as well. Save the aromatherapy candles for after dinner and instead, heat a few grocery-bought baked rolls to fill the air with a buttery scent and whet her appetite.

After dinner, don’t take to the sink and wash the dishes. Attend to them the next day and concentrate on leading your partner to a romantic evening ahead.