Memories, Monet and a Caesar

a paint & sip dinner date

Here’s the thing about routines—they can sneak up on you. One day you're planning fun date nights and excited to cook dinner for one another, and the next, you're just trying to get something on the table before the day completely gets away from you. That’s why we started our Dinner & a Date series. It’s our way of bringing a little spontaneity, creativity, and connection back to our weeknights.

Each card in our deck holds a surprise: on one side, a recipe I’ve written, and on the other, a date night challenge written by either one of us. This week, fate handed us a Becca card, which meant two things: not-your-average Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad and a paint-and-sip date with a personal twist.

The date challenge Becca came up with was to each find a photo from a trip we’ve taken together—one that sparked a core memory—and recreate it on canvas. We set the table to feel like a cozy corner of Monet’s garden, complete with painting kits, small canvases propped up on mini easels, and garden blooms. As we painted and nibbled on our Caesar salads, we laughed at our unsteady brushstrokes and hoped that the moments we were creating would turn out to be recognizable!

But then something wild happened.

When we finally revealed our paintings to each other, we realized we had chosen the same trip. Different moments, but same place. No planning, no hints, just two people who somehow tuned into the same memory at the same time. And that was the moment a fun night turned into something we won’t forget.

It reminded us why we started this series in the first place. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s a Caesar salad, a messy painting, and a shared memory that says, "I see you. I remember that too."

If you’re craving a little spark in your routine, try this dinner and a date! You don’t have to be artists to create something beautiful.

Ready? Here are the date instructions and full recipe with grocery list! Have so much fun! :)

The date:

Tonight you’ll be recreating a memory through a painting! Take a few minutes to individually find a picture from a place you’ve visited together (keep it a surprise, don’t show your each other!) Make dinner and set the table with a painting kit and two canvases propped up on mini easels, set up back-to-back so you’re facing each other but can’t see your partner’s painting. Start painting a re-creation of your photo while you eat. When you’re both done, reveal the paintings and talk about why you chose those particular memories.

The recipe: Not-Your-Average Grilled Chicken Caesar

What you’ll need:

• 1 chicken breast

• 2 heads romaine lettuce

for the dressing:

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped

• 4 anchovies (optional, but add great depth of flavor!)

• 1/2 lemon, juiced

• 2 tbsp dijon mustard

• 1 tbsp parmesan cheese

• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

• 1 tsp salt + 1 tsp pepper

for the toppings:

• grated parmesan

• balsamic glaze

• crispy onions

Instructions:

1. Preheat a cast iron pan or grill pan on medium heat.

2. In the meantime, add all the dressing ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth.

3. Slice the chicken into thin strips and season with salt and pepper, then rub a teaspoon of the dressing on it and grill until crisp on each side, about 3 minutes.

4. While the chicken cooks, wash the lettuce and chop it into strips.

5. On two plates, distribute the lettuce and add the chicken strips on top. Pour over the Caesar dressing and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Finish by topping with crispy onions and a drizzle of balsamic gaze.

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🌷 The soundtrack :

The playlist we listened to in theme with the meal you’ll be cooking!

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