Return to main articleChef Couples' Most Romantic Meals
Michael Fagnoni and Molly Hawks
Hawks Restaurant
Granite Bay, California
T+L: What makes a restaurant feel truly romantic? MH: Seating arrangements can have a lot to do with it. When we designed our restaurant, we planned it with a lot of velvet banquettes, big enough for couples to sit side-by-side. It's also great when you can actually share a dish…we try to always have a choice on the menu that's meant for two. Sometimes it's a dessert soufflé, sometimes an entrée like roast guinea hen…we've even learned to cook a single steak with one side rare and one side medium-well, so couples with different tastes can still enjoy it together. T+L: Where have the two of you enjoyed a particularly romantic meal out? MF: At Blue Hill in New York…at the Manhattan location, we sat at a corner table and had the tasting menu. It was October, and it felt warm and snug inside. I remember eating steamed foie gras and autumn vegetables…just beautifully prepared, hearty food that was exactly right for the season.
