This Valentine’s Day, forget the fancy reservations and overpriced menus—there’s a far more romantic way to celebrate: cooking with your partner. But here’s where it gets controversial: what if the most romantic meal isn’t a candlelit dinner at a restaurant, but a shared kitchen adventure? Chefs Chuck Cruz and Hailee Catalano, the duo behind the wildly popular Instagram and TikTok accounts (@chuckcruz and @haileecatalano), are here to prove just that. Every Friday night, thousands tune in to watch their soothing, hunger-inducing cooking videos, where they transform simple ingredients into mouthwatering dishes. From a glorious beach sandwich that’s gone viral to steak and potatoes elevated with black garlic-herb compound butter, their recipes are as comforting as they are creative. And let’s not forget the frequent cameos by their dog, Gus, who adds an extra dose of charm to their Asbury Park, New Jersey kitchen—a world away from the high-stress chaos of The Bear.
But their story isn’t just about food; it’s about love, partnership, and the magic that happens when two people who are passionate about cooking find each other. Chuck and Hailee met in 2012 at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, where they were paired as station partners in a fundamentals class. Hailee, a high school cooking competition winner, was immediately intrigued by Chuck’s bold personality—he showed up two hours late on the first day and talked back to the chef. ‘He’s probably a really intense, so-good-at-cooking, like, chef guy,’ she thought. Little did she know, Chuck was actually a self-proclaimed ‘really bad’ cook at the time, with a background at The Cheesecake Factory and a Chinese buffet. ‘I was going, what the hell are mother sauces?’ Chuck recalls, laughing about his early days in culinary school. Hailee, on the other hand, knew them all. ‘Damn, how does she know that?’ he wondered.
Their differences made them the perfect team. ‘When we were paired together, we would both try to help each other out,’ Hailee says. ‘It was fun. I realized he’s not intense—he’s just a goofy, funny guy.’ They started dating in 2014 and have been cooking side by side ever since, working in restaurant kitchens in Chicago and Jersey City. ‘We’re just good at cooking together for some reason,’ Hailee notes. ‘The dynamic is usually hard in high-pressure situations, but we always just know where the other person is going.’
In 2020, Hailee joined TikTok, initially skeptical it was ‘just for dancing,’ until her algorithm introduced her to cooking videos. She quickly gained a following, now boasting nearly two million fans. For Chuck and Hailee, cooking and creating content aren’t just work—they’re a way to spend quality time together. ‘Nowadays, cooking is our time of enjoyment,’ Hailee says. ‘It’s been our hobby for so many years, and it’s like having a partner to be nerdy with.’ And their nerdiness knows no bounds—when they travel, they make it their mission to find the ‘regional hot dog,’ Chuck reveals with a laugh.
Even on their days off from restaurant work, they’d look forward to cooking for fun, tackling longer projects like braises, stews, or pasta. ‘Now when we do it, it brings back those days,’ Chuck says. Their first Valentine’s Day together? A trip to Burger King, complete with tablecloths, roses, and a chicken sandwich. ‘This is the perfect Valentine’s Day for me,’ Hailee recalls. ‘A chicken sandwich and a slushee at a plastic pink tablecloth at Burger King.’
Today, they dream of opening a restaurant, but for now, they’re savoring the joy of sharing their love for food with each other—and their audience. And this is the part most people miss: romance isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about finding joy in the little things, like dicing salmon together or debating the best hot dog toppings.
Below, Chuck and Hailee share their Salmon and Citrus Tartare with Potato Chips, a light yet elegant appetizer perfect for Valentine’s Day. It’s a celebration of red—blood oranges, guajillo chile oil—and a nod to the classic surf and turf. But here’s the question: is this the ultimate Valentine’s Day dish, or do you have a recipe that tops it? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Salmon and Citrus Tartare with Potato Chips
Serves 4
Guajillo Oil
* 1 cup olive oil
* 5 guajillos, stem and seeds removed, cut into 1-inch pieces and toasted
* 2 teaspoons annatto powder
* 1 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
* 2 orange peels, shaved with a vegetable peeler
* 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
* 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
Tartare
* 1 small shallot, minced
* 1 medium blood orange, peeled and finely diced
* Juice of half a lemon
* 1 finger chile, minced
* 3 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh chives
* ¼ cup sliced Castelvetrano olives
* 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
* ½ teaspoon fish sauce
* 5 ounces high-quality salmon, diced very small (kept in fridge until ready to toss the tartare)
* Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
* Flake salt, for topping
* Kettle cooked potato chips, for serving
This recipe isn’t just a meal—it’s an invitation to connect, create, and celebrate love in the most delicious way possible. So, will you be trying it this Valentine’s Day? Or do you have a go-to recipe that’s even more romantic? Share your thoughts below—we can’t wait to hear from you!
