Valentine’s Day may be one of the most polarizing holidays of our generation. What was once dismissed as a commercialized celebration of love has been amplified by social media into a full-blown keeping-up-with-the-Joneses exercise, where romance is measured in dozens of red roses and ever-more-exclusive dinner reservations.

Those grand gestures can turn cliché quickly, says Matt Eckfeld, chef-owner of Dimmi Dimmi in Chicago, who approaches romance as something more authentic and restrained. For him, the formula is simple: “a thoughtfully prepared meal, candlelight, and some good soul music set the mood perfectly.”

That perspective helps explain why one of the most romantic dinners he recalls with his wife had nothing to do with waitlists, agonizing over a bouquet, or going over the top with decorations and cutesy table touches.

“My wife and I traveled to Paris to meet each other; at the time she was living in New York City and I was in Las Vegas,” he explains. After long days of travel, they decided to walk around the block near their hotel, got lost, and wandered into a small bistro. “It was nothing we had heard of or planned for, but it was the perfect meal. Everyone there was having a great night, and it was just perfect.”

This kind of genuine dining experience is what Eckfeld aims to recreate on year-round date nights, but especially for a Valentine’s Day celebration at home. It’s why he proposes a menu that’s “thoughtful and intimate,” “light enough to enjoy from start to finish,” yet still indulgent where it matters most.

He adds, “The courses are designed to pair beautifully with a glass of Champagne or Prosecco, creating a celebratory rhythm that builds toward a shared dessert moment.”