From exotic meals and decadent desserts, they have their Valentine plans - and the table - all laid out. As Jayant Nair, who is will be preparing a three course Italian meal for his wife Dhara, puts it, “A romantic meal at home has many advantages over a noisy, overcrowded restaurant! First, she gets to see my effort; second there is no waiting in queue for the table and then eating at top speed to make way for others; and lastly I get epic bragging rights on social media by putting the pictures out” As more and more couples enroll for cooking classes a week ahead of V-Day, we tag along to see what’s cooking!Many men and women have enrolled for baking crash courses, to master the art in a week. Rakshita Mehta, a confectioner who also doubles up as a baking teacher, says she's been receiving inquiries for lessons since the beginning of February. “Many people have approached me for baking and dessert classes, as they are planning to make a special dinner or breakfast for their partner," she says, adding, "While some opt to learn from YouTube and online videos, many prefer getting hands-on training in order to perfect the act.”She adds that it's not just the women, but men too are signing up for lessons in equal numbers. “In fact, there are more boys now! It may be because women can still figure out the details spelt out on the net, but most of the men get confused with basic ingredients,” she adds.Shivansh Mehra, a graphic designer, who is taking the course to surprise his girlfriend, shares, “She’s a cake monster! Yet, she always fails at baking and has given up trying too. So, this Valentine’s, I decided to bake her favourite red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. However, during the course, I learnt more than just cake-making. In this one week, Rakshita taught me not just how to bake cakes, but also puddings that can be made as an evening dessert, Now, I’ll probably plan a whole meal in the evening.”Exotic cuisine cooking classes are the most sought-after, since they make for a yummy meal and drool-worthy Instagram pics as well. Jayant, a marketing professional, knows that his wife’s eyes light up whenever they have Italian at restaurants. So, he signed up for a week-long course for the same to make the day extra special.“I didn’t want to do the basic pasta and bread. Therefore, I joined a week-long course, that is giving me the confidence to prepare a three-course meal. I’m planning to make mushroom ravioli for main course, and will plan the rest by the end of the course,” says Jayant.Mexican and Lebanese also figure on top of the list, the cooking instructors in the city tell us. Chef Meenakshi Singh, who is conducting Mexican cooking classes, explains, “Most of them join these classes to understand and learn the right usage of the ingredients. Moreover, the recipes given on the net have ingredients that may not be available locally. So, they learn about the alternatives from us. For example, a dish as basic as tacos is not easy to pull off in Indore , because we don’t get readymade taco shells or taco seasoning in our market. We have to start making these things from scratch with available ingredients.”Even for Lebanese cooking, the demand has gone up for the sheer exotic value of the dishes. “Indore isn’t so high on Lebanese, but some gourmet chef have started taking classes now. My husband loves kafta, tabbouleh and falafel . Not because of its unique taste, but also because it’s healthy as compared to other exotic cuisines. I’m planning to whip up a nice Lebanese four course for dinner on the 14th,” says Shrishti Datta, a medical intern.Nothing spells out 'effort' better than an exotic meal that's perfectly laid out in the perfect setting. Hence, nailing the taste and look is key for Indoreans.“We don’t spend extra time dressing up the food in fancy ways on regular days. To make it look like a V-day dinner, that kind of plating is also required. Another reason why I joined this Italian cooking class is to learn how to present my food, so my husband does not miss eating out,” shares Varuna Chand, an author.Another reasons why classes are popular is because one can practice and perfect the dish before presenting it to their partner.'“Pulling the recipe out last minute and cooking it does not guarantee the exact taste. That is why when patrons sign up for these classes, as they work on the dishes at least two-three times beforehand to get the best possible taste. And we give them honest opinions about what is missing and what can enhance the flavour. It is that extra, which is going to make their V-day meal special,” concludes Rakshita.

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