Valentine’s Day Lunch Tray

If you’ve read or heard about the 5 love languages you probably know that they are: quality time, words of affirmation, gift-giving, acts of service, and physical touch.

I’ve been trying to figure out which love language my husband has for years. Finally, he told me that his love language is more specific. He feels most loved when I make him nice meals or his favorite meals.

He says I’m a great cook (his words, not mine), and when I make the foods he likes to eat he feels most appreciated.

I guess this is sort of a mix between acts of service and gift-giving but it is specific to food.

That made a lot of sense to me. It goes along with the common saying, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”.

I googled where the quote came from and while some say Fanny Fern coined it, others say that traces its roots back to an Old English saying.

While googling, I read that a recent survey found, “that almost 80% of people felt preparing a meal for someone is a significant act of love!” says Andrea Miller, YourTango CEO.

For my husband, this must be true!

So, as I tried to think of what to do for him for Valentine’s Day, I decided I’d make him his favorite foods for a week.

Starting the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, I made him this Valentine’s Day Food Tray with some of his favorite food.

Some of his favorite stand-alone foods are salami, cheese, cucumbers, Monster Energy Drink, and Creme Brûlée—his all-time favorite dessert; based on this, I choose to make him a charcuterie-style lunch.

I served it to him with a card stating multiple reasons why I love him—to make it a bit more gift-ish.

He enjoyed it and since there was so much food, our toddlers ate lunch from it as well.

How to Make This Valentine’s Day Lunch Tray

Continue reading and/or watch the video to see how to assemble this.

Get a serving tray and fill it up with smaller dishes and a goblet. I

had some heart dishes and pink goblet which I used to make it a bit more festive.

Fill the dishes with foods your loved one likes.

I put berries in a bowl, salami meats on a heart dish, cheeses (soft cheese, cheddar, and Havarti) on another heart plate, and veggies with ranch on another heart dish.

I added crackers and some desserts my husband likes: heart-shaped macarons and creme brûlée.

It only took about 15 minutes to set up.

Supply List for this Valentine’s Day Lunch Tray

Non-food supplies:

pink goblet

small teaspoon for creme brûlée

Butane torch– food torch for creme brûlée or you can forgo this and sprinkle the sugar on top

Butane fuel– typically you will need to order this separately from the torch. Most grocery stores carry it.

Crystal candy dish bowl

Glass bowls

White ramekins

White dish

Heart dishes, plates, etc.- mine came from World Market

Serving tray (mine is made of marble pieces with gold handle) I bought it about 6 years ago so I don’t remember where I got it but I’ve linked to a similar one.

Edible supplies: I’ll mention where I found mine if the food is not an everyday grocery store item.

charcuterie salami meat mix (Costco)

cheddar cheese slices cut into fourths—sliced Tillamook cheddar from Costco

havarti cheese slices cut into fourths (Costco)

Boursin soft cheese (Costco)

crackers (Ritz, Keebler, specialty mix)

Monster energy drink chilled and put into a goblet.

heart shaped macarons (Costco)

creme brûlée (Costco)

veggies—carrots, celery, peppers, broccoli, and cucumbers.

ranch packet (or put ranch in a ramekin)

berries (strawberries and blueberries)

If your spouse feels most loved when you make them food, try giving a Valentine’s Day Lunch Tray as a gift this year. If they are like my husband, they will love it.