A Romantic French Bistro Themed Dinner & Paint Night at Home

Create a romantic and fun date night at home with this French Bistro & Paint Night theme! Enjoy a delicious French-inspired menu featuring Scallops Meunière, Lyonnaise Potatoes, and Crème Brûlée, then end the night with a creative portrait painting session full of laughter. Get the full menu, recipes, and a free Canva menu template to recreate this special evening!

In the midst of our busy lives, carving out time for meaningful moments together is so important. That’s why we’ve started a weekly themed dinner and activity night—a chance to slow down, enjoy good food, and create lasting memories. This week, we embraced the elegance and charm of a French bistro, complete with a delicious French-inspired menu and an evening of laughter as we attempted to paint portraits of each other.

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Setting the Scene: A Cozy French Bistro at Home

To bring the bistro vibes to life, I decorated our dining table with a navy blue tablecloth, setting the stage for an intimate and cozy atmosphere. A vase of pink roses sat in the center, adding a touch of romance, while two tea light candles flickered softly on either side.

For the place settings, I used rattan placemats as a natural, textured base. Each setting included a white diner plate topped with an elegant white and gold outlined plate. Natural linen napkins, held together with gold napkin rings, completed the sophisticated look. And, of course, no bistro experience is complete without a beautifully printed menu, which I designed and will be offering as a Canva template download so you can recreate this special night yourself!

The Menu: A Taste of France

Our dinner menu was inspired by classic French flavors, starting with a warm, inviting appetizer and ending with an indulgent dessert. Here’s what we enjoyed:

Starter

• French Bread with Herb Olive Oil Dipping Sauce – A simple yet flavorful way to begin the meal, featuring crusty French bread dipped in a fragrant herb-infused olive oil.

Main Course

• Scallops Meunière – Perfectly seared scallops in a buttery, lemony sauce. This dish was the star of the night!

• Lyonnaise Potatoes – Thinly sliced potatoes cooked with caramelized onions and butter, offering a crispy, flavorful bite.

• Roasted Garlic Butter Green Beans – Tender green beans roasted to perfection and coated in rich garlic butter.

Dessert

• Crème Brûlée – A classic French custard topped with a perfectly caramelized sugar crust. The best part? Cracking through that golden top with a spoon!

The Activity: Painting Each Other’s Portraits

After dinner, it was time to bring out our inner artists! I set up canvases on easels, and we each had a palette of colors and brushes ready to go. The goal? To paint a portrait of each other. The result? Let’s just say our painting skills could use some work!

We laughed so much as we attempted to capture each other’s likeness, sometimes exaggerating features or completely missing the mark. But that was the best part—there was no pressure to be perfect, just pure fun. It was a creative way to connect, be a little silly, and step outside our comfort zones. By the end of the night, we had a collection of “masterpieces” that will definitely be cherished (or hidden away for a good laugh later!).

The Experience: A Night to Remember

This French bistro-inspired date night was a huge success! From the delicious flavors of our meal to the lighthearted painting session, every part of the evening felt special. My husband and I both loved stepping into a Parisian-style evening without leaving our home.

These weekly themed dinners have quickly become something we look forward to, offering a chance to unplug, be present, and create new traditions. We can’t wait to plan the next one!

Recreate This Themed Night

Want to try this French Bistro and Paint Night date for yourself? Here’s what you’ll need:

• Download the Canva Menu Template (Link to download)

• Follow the linked recipes to prepare the meal

• Set the ambiance with a navy tablecloth, pink roses, candles, and elegant tableware

• Gather art supplies (canvases, easels, paints, and brushes)

• Have fun!

This night reminded us that it’s not about being professional chefs or artists—it’s about spending time together, enjoying delicious food, and making memories. If you try this themed dinner, let me know how it goes!

Until next week’s adventure, bon appétit and happy painting!