No one under 17 is allowed to be served this romantic dinner menu unless accompanied by an adult. That's because it's geared to grown-up tastes with earthy Mediterranean flavors and unusual combinations. The Roasted Orange-and-Bell Pepper Soup, for example, gets its inspiration from Spanish seafood soups that use fresh orange juice as a flavoring. Roasting the orange and bell pepper before pureeing the soup gives it a mysterious, smoky undertone.

For the entree, we have sea scallops, which are now in season and available fresh. Moist, sweet, and sea-scented, they're served with angel hair pasta in pesto sauce. Because fresh basil isn't in markets this time of year, our pesto is made with parsley, and instead of pine nuts or walnuts, we feature pistachios.

For dessert, we use spiced figs that are topped with wine. Eschewing the obvious (i.e., cinnamon and nutmeg), our wine sauce is infused with rosemary, thyme, and black pepper. If this elegant menu seems a bit on the gourmet-price side, remember: It's for two and in honor of romance. As we said earlier, this is not the kiddie matinee.

Romantic Ticket Menu
Scallops and Pasta With Pistachio-Parsley Pesto
Roasted Orange-and-Bell Pepper Soup
Spiced Figs in Red Wine
Also Serve:
French bread
Sparkling white wine