Picking out the right food and wine is absolutely crucial if you want your date to go well. I have been reading Food and Wine Magazine for years now, and I have to say that it has improved my romantic life more than anything else. Don’t get me wrong – I like to have the right wine list to mpress my friends when they come over for dinner. I also like to be able to show off when I’m going out with colleagues to fancy restaurants. Nonetheless, the real importance is making the right impression on a date.

I used to not worry about food and wine, stylish clothes, or any of that. I figure that if I met the right woman, she would see through to the real me without me having to worry too much about the trappings of success. I did have some successful dates, and some meaningful relationships too, but in general they were few and far between. I didn’t really realize it at the time, but the big problem was that I wasn’t making the right first impression. Sometimes, I wouldn’t even be able to get a date. Other times, I just wouldn’t seem like anything special on the first date.

Once I started brushing up on food and wine, as well as learning about stylish clothing, things started to change for me. Nowadays, my best trick is cooking a delicious, homemade meal for a date. Usually I will have a red or white wine list with dinner, allowing her to pick what bottle we open. Then we will have chicken Alfredo, seafood pasta, or some other similar dish. I do my best to make everything perfect. Even if it doesn’t come out just right, girls noticed the effort. It impresses them, and makes them want to make more of an effort to get to know you.

Good food is also a great way to start a conversation. Obviously, having a good dish will be a good conversation starter, but it can also lead to other interesting topics. Everyone likes to learn about how to make new recipes, where to buy the freshest produce and ingredients, and what other people do in their spare time. Paying attention to food and wine allows you to have things to say about all of these topics. That way, you can make the right impression right away. You don’t have to worry about first dates of first impressions anymore. You’ll have it in the bag.