Although when it comes to romance on a personal basis, Rebecca enjoys everything from the dancing the night away to moonlit carriage rides, what she particularly adores are quiet evenings spent alone with her husband, John. Since she is frequently asked by the media and readers alike how to entertain at home in a romantic fashion, here are some of her suggestions:
One of Rebecca's favorite places to begin is here in the Dining Hall at Ravenscroft Castle, where she often serves a late supper à deux. To create a romantic ambiance, she starts by setting the stage with both fresh flowers and candles. When it comes to flowers, she much prefers mixed bouquets of fragrant English garden blooms (cut fresh from Ravenscroft Castle's own gardens, of course) over traditional roses (although those are lovely, too), and she will arrange them in everything from metal buckets to crystal vases, depending on her mood.
Often, again depending on her mood and because she likes to do the unexpected, Rebecca chooses to illuminate the dining table here at Ravenscroft Castle with some of the more beautiful and unusual candlesticks she has collected over the years, rather than with the heavy silver candelabra she usually has on display. Sometimes, she finds just a scattering of whatever candles may be on hand equally enchanting, since no matter what form they take, candles always set a romantic mood.
Highly attractive table settings need not be either fancy or expensive, and these days, crystal, china, and silverware, etc., need not match, besides. In fact, Rebecca thinks some of the most delightful table settings are composed of charming but mismatched accoutrements collected from antique shops, flea markets, estate sales, and elsewhere. But whether table settings are simple or elaborate, they should always please the eye in some fashion, just as the food and wine served should be appealingly presented, as well as tempt the palate.
 
The menus you will find in Ravenscroft Castle's Kitchen are just a sample of those Rebecca enjoys cooking and that she often chooses to prepare, according to the tastebuds of her husband, family, and friends. All the wines, champagnes, and brandies listed in Ravenscroft Castle's Wine Cellar are also selected with equal care.
Some of Rebecca's additional tips for romantic dining are: Never feel compelled to follow any recipe precisely as written. Dare to be creative, and to experiment to discover what you like best. Prepare everything you can well ahead of time, so you can enjoy yourself, too --- because above all, the point is to have fun, not to be stuck in the kitchen all evening! A relaxed hostess who takes things in stride and wants to ensure that everyone --- including herself --- has a good time is really half the key to successful entertaining.
In fact, one of Rebecca's favorite dining anecdotes is about a time many years ago when she decided to bake lasagna for a special man in her life. He mentioned to some of their friends that he was having supper at her house --- and they not only promptly invited themselves, but also told several more friends, who then promptly invited themselves, too. Eventually, what had originally started out as a quiet supper à deux had metamorphosed into an impromptu dinner party for twenty-two people!
It was not at all what Rebecca had planned (to which she responds that, sometimes, you just have to go with the flow). Even so, a wonderful time was had by everybody --- and perhaps in part because she was such a good sport about the supper for two that grew, this particular man later proposed marriage. But, unready to make such a serious commitment at that point in her life, Rebecca turned him down --- gently, of course --- although she still remembers him fondly to this very day.
Bon Appétit!
   
   
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