Forget chocolates. From high-stakes date nights to restorative bowls for a friend in need, here’s what we cook when words don’t cut it.
Good Food team
Valentine’s Day is usually synonymous with roses and romance, but at Good Food, we know the real magic happens in the kitchen.
This year, we’re widening the net to acknowledge every occasion worth cooking for. After all, as playwright George Bernard Shaw famously wrote: “There is no sincerer love than the love of food.”
Whether it’s a rowdy “Galentine’s” gathering, a meal built on family heritage or a dish that lands on the doorstep when life feels heavy, a preheated oven is often the ultimate Cupid’s bow.
Here are the recipes that speak our love language, shared from our team to your table.
For my partner (or someone I want to impress)
From high-stakes classics to the “secret weapon” recipes that prove you’ve been paying attention, these are the dishes we lean on to win a heart via the stomach.
The best recipes from Australia’s leading chefs straight to your inbox.
The “I know your order” dish: Seafood pasta
Knowing which dish your partner will order off a menu is a sign of true love – at least in my eyes. If there’s a seafood pasta on there, he’s having it. So for a special dinner at home, something like Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s prawn and cherry tomato pasta is my go-to. Emma Breheny
Put a ring on it: Marry me chicken
I’m a few years late to the Marry me chicken craze that once dominated every social media feed. But given my ring finger is still bare, maybe it’s time I put the recipe’s reputation to the test. While the viral TikTok original uses chicken breasts, my partner is a die-hard thigh man, so Adam Liaw’s version is perfect. Emily Holgate
The way to the heart: Savoury pastries
Mum’s given me plenty of advice over the years, but the bit that’s actually stuck? “The way to a man’s heart is through pastry.” Flaky? Maybe, but with this in mind, I always have puff pastry in the freezer, ready for impromptu impressers like Katrina Meynink’s beef short rib, miso and beer pot pies, halloumi spanakopita or one of these simple savoury tarts. Sweet tooths need not apply. Andrea McGinniss
Say it with pasta: Ragu alla bolognese
Even the simplest bowl of spaghetti tossed in butter can make a heart flutter – especially when brightened with lemon, like Katrina Meynink’s creme fraiche and lemon pasta. That said, there’s a different kind of romance in the slow burn; the quiet magic of Karen Martini’s ragu alla bolognese bubbling on the stove for hours. Sarah Norris
The high-stakes classic: Risotto
A food writer is courting a chef, and what does she cook for him? Only the MasterChef “death dish”: risotto. “What was I thinking?” I remember thinking, midway through coaxing the rice into silky-starchy submission. But I needn’t have fretted. It’s become my partner’s favourite. Nowadays, I use Adam Liaw’s mushroom base, and follow my grandfather’s lead by topping it with sliced, pan-fried duck breast to up the decadence (and cheffiness). Annabel Smith
For a casual dinner with good mates
Low-effort prep meets high-impact results with these shared favourites, designed to keep the focus on the conversation while the food does the heavy lifting.
Brunch is the new dinner: Pancakes
Does a casual breakfast count? I’m hosting brunch for my annual Galentine’s event on February 14, and you can expect to see pancakes on the table. I’m tossing up between Adam Liaw’s perfect pancake recipe poured into heart shapes, or fluffy ricotta hotcakes from the late, great Bill Granger. Isabel Cant
The deceptively simple loaf: Focaccia
Capitalise on the myth that bread is difficult and master the (deceptively simple) art of focaccia. While it can take three days to prep, the active work is under 15 minutes and you can time it so that the loaf hits the table as guests arrive – dishes done, the kitchen smelling of baking, and labneh and hummus ready. I’m a devotee of Samin Nosrat’s Ligurian recipe (I even made two batches for our wedding), but I’m keen to try Ellie Bouhadana’s focaccia from her book Ellie’s Table; her detailed instructions are the perfect place to start. Bianca Hrovat
Mid-table masterpiece: Pork or lamb shoulder
I love slow-cooking a centrepiece – like Karen Martini’s pulled pork shoulder or Andrew McConnell’s lamb shoulder – and plonking it mid-table alongside some of Katrina Meynink’s colourful salads and RecipeTin Eats’ smashed spuds and letting them dig in. It’s simple, make-ahead and prepared with lots of love (and usually a big glass of wine in my hand, a la Keith Floyd). Andrea McGinniss
The crowd-pleaser: Chocolate cake
I’m not particularly fond of chocolate, but that hasn’t stopped me from regularly making the world’s best chocolate cake from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Sweet, simply because I love watching other people enjoy it. I’ve had friends call to request it, and I’ve even seen guests argue over who got the bigger slice. It’s rich and properly decadent, with a hint of coffee to bring out the chocolate flavours. If there are children coming, I usually make Helen Goh’s everyday adaptation instead, which is lighter, sweeter and just as delicious. Erina Starkey
For a family occasion
Rooted in heritage and built for sharing, these are the reliable staples and seasonal favourites that turn a simple family gathering into a celebration of connection and culture.
A bowl of bold comfort: Rendang
Beef rendang has become our family-event mainstay – bold, comforting, and, with the right cut, incredibly luxurious. Adam Liaw’s short rib rendang is a charmer, although if there’s a vegetarian at the table, Hetty McKinnon’s mushroom version is also fantastic. Isabel Cant
The “village” workhorse: Greek salad
The humble and simple Greek salad is a workhorse of a recipe, a weekly stable and something I always bring to family gatherings. It’s fresh, textural, and that kick of salt from the feta never gets old. But Jessica Brook elevates it by roasting feta with honey and olive oil, adding a new dimension to this traditional village salad. I always prepare it for my partner’s family. Not only is it full of flavour, but it’s a way of sharing my Greek culture at the dinner table. Dion Georgopoulos
The summer obsession: Zucchini salad
Each summer, I lock onto a new recipe to take to every family gathering. We’ve had the years of the Cypriot grain salad, the tomato and olive tapenade tart, and even the tomato and chickpea curry. This season, I’m all about Helen Goh’s zucchini and green bean salad with preserved lemon and pistachios. It helps use up my backyard zucchini glut and, by adding creamy burrata to finish, it hits every flavour note. Roslyn Grundy
A taste of heritage: Prawn curry
So far, 2026 has been defined by kitchen experiments that pay homage to my Sri Lankan heritage. Neil Perry’s tangy prawn curry ticks every box: it impresses my Burgher mum, caters to my pescatarian brother and brings the summer energy with juicy king prawns. The real win, though, is the coconut pol sambol – I add garlic just as my grandpa did, and always make enough for Mum to take a jar home. Emily Holgate
Hunk of burning love: Steak and sides
Nothing says “I love you” like a crowded dining table. When the family gathers, I fire up the charcoal barbecue for a central hunk of meat, leaning on Adam Liaw’s thick-steak masterclass to nail the internal temperature. To flank it? Corn on the cob smothered in zesty coriander butter, a green salad, and a pile of crunchy “broken” spuds. But the real heart-melter is the sauce. I swear by a zingy salsa verde, specifically Yotam Ottolenghi’s, though I double down on capers, garlic and anchovies – and give a firm “no” to dill. Sarah Norris
For myself
Sometimes the most meaningful meals are the ones we make just for us, prioritising pure comfort and the simple joy of eating exactly what we crave.
A hug in a bowl: Noodle soup
Noodle soups are my No.1 comfort food, but I long ago accepted that curry laksa, ramen and khao soi are best left to the pros. When I’m cooking, Il keep it simple and usually vegetarian, using ingredients like mushrooms to amplify the flavour. Danielle Alvarez’s spicy shiitake and cabbage udon with soft-boiled eggs and a healthy thwack of the Korean chilli paste gochujang sits in the sweet spot of achievable yet satisfying. A godsend. Emma Breheny
The birthday request: Chicken wings
Growing up, I was allowed to choose a special dinner for my birthday every year. Without fail, I chose chicken wings. At the time, I had no idea they were cheap or easy to prepare; I just knew I loved them – and I still do. Now I make them anytime I want. Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s sweet, sticky soy-ginger chicken wings are an improved version of my mum’s (I love her addition of white pepper). They’re nothing fancy, but they still bring the same joy. Erina Starkey
The sensory slow-cook: Deluxe shepherd’s pie
I can’t think of a more steadying, relaxing cooking experience than gently stirring mirepoix in a big ol’ Le Creuset. A wooden spoon on enamel-coated cast iron? Phwoar yeah. Who needs aromatherapy? Even better when it’s a Sunday afternoon and there’s Bill Evans on the stereo (Moon Beams or Autumn Leaves) and Karen Martini’s “deluxe” shepherd’s pie is the outcome. Given the five-hour braising and cook time on the pie, not to mention the sense of occasion porcini mushrooms bring, it’s also a wonderful thing to make for someone you care about.
For a friend in need
When words aren’t enough, these restorative, easy-to-reheat dishes offer nourishment and comfort.
Low-maintenance lifesaver: One-pan chicken and potato
Adam Liaw’s one-pan roasted chicken and potato is the quiet, comforting answer to “What can I do to help?” Simply flavoured with garlic and rosemary, the dish requires no stovetop supervision, and pairing it with a salad adds the crisp freshness the recipient may not have had the energy to shop for. I deliver them in separate recyclable foil trays because friends don’t let friends fret about washing and returning dishes. Roslyn Grundy
The cold-buster: Avgolemono
From seasonal sniffles to full-blown flu – if you (or your favourite people) are feeling down, avgolemono (Greek egg and lemon soup) is the perfect remedy. It’s a recipe cooked in times of need – to heal, revitalise and bring both mind and body back to centre. Call me superstitious, but it works. Think delicate, flaky chicken served in a zesty, lemony broth that’s packed with essential vitamins and minerals. I have spent countless late nights stirring this pot for the people I love most; it’s more than just a meal, it’s a way back to yourself. Dion Georgopoulos
One-handed wonder: Savoury muffins and loaves
Do you have postpartum friends in your life? Bake them some savoury muffins or a loaf. You can freeze them in bulk, reheat them quickly in the microwave and eat them with one hand. They can also be nourishing and delicious, like Helen Goh’szaatar and spring vegetable loaf or Sarah Di Lorenzo’s feta and spinach muffins. Bonus, most recipes are pretty forgiving if you want to amp up the protein (swapping half a cup of flour for rolled oats, for example) or the nutrients (sprinkle with pepita seeds before baking for a magnesium and zinc boost). Bianca Hrovat
The “fully sick” toolkit: Bowl food
When a friend is ailing, the best medicine comes in a bowl. Under “fully sick friends” on the Good Food app, I’ve bookmarked Jill Dupleix’s great chickpea and roast pumpkin casserole, Charlotte Rees’ comforting lasagne and this now-legendary cold-busting chicken soup. All hit the trifecta: comforting, nutritious and easy to reheat. Andrea McGinniss
