1st Anniversary Dinner help...

[KadyLissa]

My husband is a picky eater (rolls eyes) and I am not. I love to cook gormet but Im not sure what to cook for him. Any ideas for a meat and potatoes kinda guy.

[pmody]

You can cook tapas. That's what my boyfriend and I are doing for our 1 year (dating) anniversary. That way it can be a little different/more gourmet thanthe usual American cuisine, but it's still pretty meat and potato heavy. We're making a big bowl of sangria, and then cooking together the whole evening.

[Tay]

I think Morganna's suggestion is great!. Remember: It's your special day as well as his lucky day. :-} No one except the restaurant staff should be serving on your anniversary.
Have a wonderful and menorable time.

[Morganna]

I set up a tradition immediately when we were married. We always go out for our anniversary dinner, and we always go someplace we've never been before. In lean years that can mean a diner down the street that we've not tried yet, but as much as I enjoy cooking, I'm really glad we started doing this on our first anniversary.

I cook special things for him all the time at home (we have holiday feasts on various holidays), and he loves my cooking, but going out to fancy schmancy places on our anniversary stretches us both. We usually go someplace very upscale that we couldn't normally afford to visit unless it was a special occasion, and we try to order things that we haven't had before, or would be slightly outside of our comfort zone. :)

Over the years (we just celebrated our 17th this September) it has become a lovely adventure that we share, just the two of us. It is relaxing since I don't have to rush around trying to make everything come out on time at the right temperature, and we can focus completely on each other. :)

[charlesbois]

If your husband is picky, he may not like the pate on beef Wellington. How about Chateaubriand? The recipe is usually for two, so it has kind of a "romantic" bonus.

[Olivia]

I mean this sincerely...your best bet is probably to go out! That way he gets his meat 'n' potatoes, and you can have something more creative.

[laurendlewis]

For whatever reason, my hubbie suggested cheese fondue for our 1st ann'y - so I said OK. But it turned out to be a great idea - it's pretty easy but the range of dippers can be easy or more complex. And it lends itself to a slow laid back meal while drinking a great bottle of wine.
And while it is heavy, it's not too heavy that you can't have a special dessert.

I know it's odd... but that is our bizarre little tradition.

[MMRuth]

Not odd - we've done that as well. Or sometimes I put together a huge plateau de fruits de mer - easy to do, I make a couple of sauces, add some champagne, and you're set!

[MzMaggie]

How about beef Wellington?

[kmr]

I'll second the Beef Wellington...I make wellington for two using filet migon and frozen puff pastry....this dish helped changed my hubby from a "meat & tators" guy to a real chowhound. Plus it's simple, gorgeous, and you can do most of it ahead, so that you are relaxed for a romantic evening at home. I've posted the recipe on the home cooking boards...

[MMRuth]

My suggestion would be to make meat and potatoes, but in an interesting way. For potatoes, for example, instead of boiled or baked potatoes, make potato balls sauteed in goose fat, a pommes Anna (hope I have that right) or souffle potatoes - or Boulangerie Potatoes, which have the added benefit of having bacon in them!

Edit - do you have any French cookbooks - like Julia Child? That might be a good place to start.