5 at-home date night ideas that aren’t takeaway on the couch

If you’ve ever had the absolute delight of partaking in a karaoke session in Tokyo, you’ll know it’s a tanoshii (fun) experience. You can easily capture the essence of a late-night open-mic bar or private booth at home in the heart of Shinjuku. First, you’ll need to dig out your PS3 and track down an old SingStar game (PSA: people are selling them pretty cheap on eBay right now). Or, simply log into YouTube on your TV and queue up some “lyric version” videos of your favourite ballads and bangers – whatever floats your boat. Next up, ambience: dim the lights, string up fairy lights, and locate an LED disco ball; party lighting will help you muster the confidence to belt out your favourite tune.

You’ll work up an appetite with all that singing, so we suggest serving Japanese snacks and beverages between songs. Think ice-cold Asahi, a bottle of Kizakura Konteki Junmai Daiginjo (a crisp sake from one of Japan’s smallest breweries), freezer gyozas, DIY karaage (or KFC if you're too busy killing it on the mic), and a tub of matcha ice cream. Heads up: ‘Espresso’ by Sabrina Carpenter is harder than you think, and ‘I Try’ by Macy Gray will always be a crowd-pleaser (or in this case, couple-pleaser). Kawaii!

This date night begins at your local op shop. You’re each tasked with finding the oldest, kitschiest cookbook you can get your hands on. We’re talking a well-loved first-edition Australian Women’s Weekly Cookbook with a dish on the cover that looks… questionable. If you find the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book with the duck that has potato chips for a bill, you’ve hit the jackpot. Once you’ve made your choices, why not swing over to the clothing racks and find a loud shirt or party dress to really bring some extra pizzazz to your at-home date night?

From here, decide on the most creative/out-there/exotic dish in each of your chosen cookbooks and jump into the kitchen. We recommend pairing a wine that’s a solid all-rounder to suit whatever’s being dished up, like a rosé or a pinot noir. A bottle of Chapel Hill The Parson Sangiovese Rosé offers a nice dry, textured finish while highlighting sangiovese’s delicious core of sour cherry fruit. As for a pinot, we can’t go past Nepenthe Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir; its subtle fragrant herbs and summer berry notes make it a versatile red that complements most dishes – yes, even that chicken and veal Kiev.

The novelty of tiny wine glasses on a board with mouthfuls of cheese to match isn’t lost on us. If you don’t have a board and small glasses, just use regular wine glasses and pour roughly 60mL in each one alongside your chosen cheeses. Half the fun of this idea is heading to your local market or deli and chatting with the person behind the counter. Let them be your guide, then head to Dan’s to chat with a wine merchant who can help you find wines that enhance each cheese.

For soft cheeses, Bird In Hand Sparkling offers a creamy, refreshing accompaniment. If you pick up goat’s cheese, Sidewood Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc’s bright citrus notes will match the cheese’s natural acidity. Big into blue? Some Young Punks Monsters Attack Reisling is an off-dry drop with big acidity and brilliant florals – perfect between bites of English Stilton. Hard cheeses like cheddar pair beautifully with Sassoregale Maremma Sangiovese’s approachable intensity. Now, we know what you’re thinking: do you need four bottles of wine for this date night? Certainly not. Choose a few cheeses that are similar in taste and style and go with one bottle, or mix up a range of cheeses and try them all with a single bottle to see which pairing knocks your socks off.