Menu & Plan for a Romantic St. Patrick’s Day Date Night

When a publicist asked me to create a seductive, Irish-inspired St. Patrick’s Day date night menu for a food show, I was stumped. St. Patrick’s Day isn’t exactly known for romance—it’s a holiday of bottomless pints of beer, corned beef, and tiny green men. Sexy, right?

What do you cook for a St. Patrick’s Day date?

I toyed with the idea of a “Kiss the Blarney Stone” theme, treating it like Irish mistletoe. But let’s be real—thousands of strangers pressing their lips against a centuries-old rock? Not exactly the stuff of seduction.

Then it hit me: St. Patrick’s Day is really a celebration of spring, a season bursting with sensuality and renewal. That gave me the perfect inspiration for a menu that’s festive, indulgent and undeniably aphrodisiac.
Around this concept, I could build a menu of Irish food dishes!

The rich roots of Irish heritage include delicious, wholesome food like North Atlantic seafood, farm-raised lamb and beef and organic root vegetables. (That, of course, includes the ubiquitous potato.)

This time of year, farmers’ markets are intoxicating, overflowing with vivid green peas, earthy leeks, and emerald artichokes. These flavors are as fresh as spring itself and just so happen to be common in traditional Irish cooking. With visions of spring—and maybe even a little Irish step dancing—swirling in my head, I was ready to create a menu of seasonal Irish aphrodisiacs.

Irish aphrodisiac ingredients

Some of Ireland’s most traditional foods also happen to be aphrodisiacs.

• Salmon, cod, and lobster—known as the fruits of Aphrodite—are rich in phosphorus, iodine, and zinc, all essential for testosterone production.
• Leeks were prized as a love enhancer by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Emperor Nero was so convinced of their power that he reportedly ate leek soup every day.
• Even the humble potato has a sultry past. Amazonian women once ate them to boost their sex drive and some claim potatoes work like chocolate—boosting serotonin levels and enhancing a feeling of well-being.

How to set the scene for an Irish-themed dinner

No St. Patrick’s Day celebration would be complete without a nod to Ireland’s festive libations. Think smooth Irish whiskey and the heady, roasted malt of Guinness.

Of course, the atmosphere is everything. A romantic Irish dinner wouldn’t be complete without a soundtrack. Whether it’s the rock and folk sounds of U2, Van Morrison, Damien Rice, and The Cranberries or the Celtic melodies of The Chieftains and the Young Dubliners, music sets the mood.

And what’s an Irish evening without a toast? Whether wise or witty, an Irish toast is the perfect way to start—or end—a romantic night.

So, make this a chic and lighthearted affair. And don’t limit yourself to just St. Patrick’s Day—if your lover has a passion for Irish flair, this seductive, seasonal menu is perfect for any springtime date night.

The recipes

I admit that setting the scene for seduction on St. Patrick’s Day is an unusual experience. That’s why I recommend starting your night by sipping an unusual libation, the Black Velvet. This Irish cocktail combines Guinness with Champagne or sparkling wine and it happens to be my favorite sexy, Irish drink.

Black Velvet Champagne Cocktail

For the rest of the menu, click on the links to my favorite (aphrodisiac) Irish recipes below:

Irish Leek and Potato Soup with Stout

North Atlantic Salmon with Irish Butter Sauce

This article was updated in March 2025 with updated images and links.

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Diane Brown

Diane Brown is the author of The Seduction Cookbook: Culinary Creations For Lovers, (Innova Publishing 2005). She is a personal chef as well as a freelance food writer. Her work has appeared in publications including Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Sunset, Veggie Life, Chile Pepper and Wine Enthusiast. She has taught aphrodisiac cooking both in person and on tv and radio, including appearances on The Other Half, Fox News “Ask the Expert” and Leeza at Night. A champion of CSA's, Diane writes the blog Family Farm Box, where she showcases the use of local, fresh produce.

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