Or so I’m reliably informed by my very ‘unwithit’ husband when I mused over the HOSTE Galentine’s Make a Meal of It boxes in collaboration with Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial.
“That ‘gal-pal’ celebration is over 10 years old and coined on Parks and Recreation Anna. It’s when you celebrate your Gals. Why don’t you send them a present of your mohair socks or something?” Queue eye rolling and muttering from behind my insta-scrolling. I obviously should have thought about this, my friends have been rocks to me this past year.
Galentine’s Day on the 13th February is the perfect celebration to shine a spotlight on those that have been by our side digitally or on our sanctioned walks. When we’ve been stuck inside with our other halves for the best part of a year, it’s those wonderful, knowing Gals in our lives that we’ve turned to rant or rave and laugh or cry.
Laura Jackson of HOSTE gets it. The sumptuous menus paired with two delicious Moët & Chandon Rosé cocktails along with playlists and table setting ideas makes this collaboration well worthy of a night in over Zoom.
Gosh my ex- Moët Hennessy colleagues in London got all the fun creating this with Laura!
Now, unsurprisingly (what with me being behind the times) the Galentine’s Make a Meal of It boxes are sold out and I’m not even sure they would have delivered to Scotland. So the PAIRS Scotland team have come up with their own take to celebrate Galentine’s Day.
Pairs Scotland Galentine's Day Menu
We’re definitely keeping the baked camembert on our menu, that’s a given. We’re going to spice ours up though with some mango chutney and jalapenos baked between a wreath of cut french bread. Just slice open the camembert and slather with the chutney and chilli. Sandwich it together and pop it in the oven to bake. Move it to a cooler oven to sit until you’re ready for your call with the Gals.
To cut through the richness and ampt up the spice I’ll be diving into my usual smokey Ardbeg Ten whisky. It’s not for the faint hearted though so a crisp sangiovese rose is an unexpected option that still has some bite while a riesling is perfect partner for the chilli-heat.
After that gusty warm up to your evening and because you’re meant to be chatting not cooking,we’ve selected a refreshing, light fish course which can be prepared in advance and put in to cook at the start of your call.
Toss sliced new potatoes, tender stem broccoli or asparagus, red onion chunks and vine tomatoes in lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil salt and pepper. Throw into a roasting tray with enough baking paper to create a parcel for all the ingredients. Add salmon fillets and a glass of white wine. Gather up the baking paper and fold into a tent above all the ingredients so steam can gather while cooking.
You can’t go wrong with a good white burgundy to go with these fresh flavours. Equally if you’ve decided to pop the bubbly for this evening then crack on, it’ll be deliciously joyful.
I don’t have a particularly sweet tooth, hence the cheese up front and a desire for a piece of dark dark chocolate. My Gals will be appalled though, so for them and those that enjoy a delicious pud at the end of a decadent meal, let us finish with a classic chocolate moose that you can make in advance too.
This looks simply delicious from the Sheer Luxe website Chocolate Whisky Mousse With Raspberries
Wishing you an unexpectedly joyful Galentine’s Day and if you can’t get together over a meal via online means then why not send a little lockdown lift as suggested by Grazia Magazine this month.
