New Kallø Survey Reveals Brits Worst Date Foods…And the Recipe for Love

From spilling bolognese on your new white blouse to trying (and failing) to cook a complicated dish – we’ve all been there when it comes to first date culinary disasters.

So it’s no surprise that Brits have named a spicy curry as the worst food to eat on a date, with two thirds ‘uncomfortable’ when eating messy food in front of a potential love interest.

A poll of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Kallø, also found spaghetti dishes, ribs and corn on the cob are the top foods to avoid at all costs, along with oysters (usually dubbed the food of love) and noodles.

Just a fifth of adults would feel confident eating spaghetti or noodles on a date, with seven in 10 believing there is a fine art to eating them politely.

As a result, almost four in 10 consider how hard a food will be to eat before choosing a romantic meal to eat or cook, while 28 per cent assess whether it will get stuck in their teeth.

And almost seven in 10 believe it is important to select the least messy food possible on a first date – with epic food spills coming out top of Brits most embarrassing first date disasters.

CiCi Coleman, Britain’s most famous waitress, who has teamed up with Kallø, said:

CiCi’s Top Tips:

1. Avoid food that is hard to eat – messy eating doesn’t make the best impression

2. Wear something that you feel comfortable in

3. If you are cooking for them, make sure you find a quick recipe – don’t want to leave them waiting

4. Also, choose to make something easy (so it doesn’t all go wrong) but also something full of flavour to really impress

5. Always be honest and make sure you’re asking questions back 

The survey also found more than two thirds feel nervous when cooking for a new date, as only half consider themselves a good chef. According to the findings, the average Brit only feels comfortable cooking for someone after three dates.

Despite nerves in the kitchen, food is still clearly the way to many Brits’ hearts, with 47 per cent of people revealing their idea of a perfect date is being cooked for.

For Brits looking to achieve first date success, top considerations when deciding what to cook include how easy it is to make (54 per cent), followed closely by how tasty it is (53 per cent) and how long it takes to prepare (44 per cent).

Although almost a quarter admitted to trying to cook something fancy just to impress – and a cheeky 13 per cent even confessed to buying a takeaway and passing it off as their own culinary creation to wow their date.

Risotto, a roast dinner and chicken dishes proved the most popular romantic meals, but daters would avoid preparing sushi, oysters and noodles.

The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found more than a third would be put off dating someone who can’t cook.

Bryan Martins, Kallø’s Marketing Director, says: 

As part of the campaign, Kallø will also be working with TikTok stars to get their top tips on the best meals to impress a loved one this Valentine’s Day.

About Kallø Stock Pastes

Kallø’s survey is part of the brand’s Valentine’s Day campaign which spotlights its innovative new stock pastes - the easiest way to naturally add a burst of flavour to any home-cooked creation. The brand’s mission is to make eating natural and healthy food delicious and effortless (even on Valentine’s Day) through a growing range of snacks and cooking ingredients - helping shoppers marry convenience and taste without compromise.

Kallø stock pastes are the ultimate kitchen hack for cooking fresh, flavoursome meals. Convenient, versatile and easy to use, stock pastes are perfect for scratch-cooking enthusiasts with a busy lifestyle. Each recyclable tube contains six concentrated servings (one squeeze = one tablespoon) and is equal in flavour to one stock pot.

Available in three flavours – Vegetable & Mixed Herbs, Chicken & Rosemary and Garlic & Mixed Herbs – each paste is full of flavour and made with natural and high-quality, organic ingredients. The new stock pastes are gluten and lactose free, as well as free from any artificial colours and preservatives (available in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco RRP £2.50 each).

About Kallø

At Kallø we do things better. We only use carefully selected, honest ingredients to create something extraordinary. We take pride in never using artificial preservatives, colourings or flavourings and never sacrificing on flavour. Our Organic stocks and plant based rice, corn and veggie cakes are not only brimming with super-tasty ingredients, but made in a responsible way. We are flying the flag for change, as a fully-fledged B Corp, we are always learning and looking for new ways to give back.

Part of the Ecotone UK family, the brand continues to innovate in plant-based products that support wildlife biodiversity and are better for people and the planet.

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