What does a man do when he has stars in his eyes, Cupid sitting on his shoulder, and he wants to woo the woman of his dreams?
Chances are, he invites her out for dinner.
If he’s a wise man, there will be chocolates, champagne on ice, and a menu to tantalize the senses. Because really, is there anything more sensual, when you think about it, than food that delights the eye; is delicious to the nose; tempts the taste buds; and is savored in a relaxed setting while gazing into the eyes of someone who can make you forget that anything exists in the world other than the pair of you, right here and right now?
Sound cliched? If you’re cynical, perhaps. But there is good reason that culinary pleasures have come to be associated with romance.
“The brain is your biggest sex organ,” says G. Frank Lawlis, PhD, an advisor on the Dr. Phil Show. And, "The satisfaction from eating a delicious meal and the satisfaction from having sex both activate pleasure receptors in the brain," says nutrition and public health expert Audrey Cross, PhD.
When it comes to attraction, falling in love and feelings of romance, our synapses are hot-wired and dictate how we respond. And so the setting and the trimmings are not just the cherry on the top. They stir the pot, so to speak.
Now that we’ve set the scene for hearts and roses, we invite you to dive into our menu of foodie facts and fanciful ideas designed to spice up your life — in and out the bedroom — on Valentine’s Day.
Chocolate Nibbles
On a recent visit to Xocolate Bar, Malena Lopez-Maggi and Clive Brown’s exotic little store of guilty pleasures and amor in Berkeley, Calif., chocolatier Malena was in the process of making what she called “an aphrodisiac (chocolate) bar.” It was a heady blend that included cinnamon, cardamom, clove, chili, ginger and Maca root. If you google any of these ingredients along with the term “aphrodisiac,” you will find they come up with references to love-making and libido. Malena calls the Maca “the great new Peruvian wonder ingredient,” referring to the legendary sex-enhancing qualities of the plant, which dates back to the Incas. “Here, we have the heat (of the spices) and the Maca, in combination with the dark chocolate,” she says, the dark chocolate being the key, because eating dark chocolate (70 percent cocoa and above) can boost both serotonin, which is linked to sexual arousal, and phenylethylamine, which is associated with attraction and falling in love.
Eat Dessert First
Not really. That was just to get your attention.
And now that I have it, a friend told me recently how she had read that sharing a luscious dessert was effective foreplay. She’d tried it with her husband and says it works.
However, when it comes to sweet sensations, beware of overdoing it on the sugar. In excess, it’s a passion killer, as is alcohol. To quote from Shakespeare’s Macbeth: (alcohol) “provokes the desire, but takes away the performance.” What was true in Shakespeare’s time remains true today.
An Appetite for Aphrodisiacs
The famed Italian lover, Casanova, ate oysters to keep up his zest. Nutritionists say it’s the zinc in the mollusks that does it. Madame Pompadour reputedly devoured truffles, vanilla and celery to heighten her desire for Louis XV. Pine nuts have been used for centuries to make love potions. The legendary Roman physician Galen recommended eating 100 pine nuts before going to bed. The moral of these stories? The concept of edible aphrodisiacs goes way, way back.
Champagne Tastes
If you want to blow her away, make it real, which means it must come from the Champagne region of France. If it’s not from there, it’s sparkling wine, or bubbly, or cava if it’s from Spain, or prosecco if it’s from Italy, or — different countries and different wineries have their own terminology. For the real thing and if you have the budget, you won’t go wrong with Dom Pérignon. But if she (or you) likes something bubbly that’s sweet, drink demi-sec.
Love those culinary traveling films
Want to stay home with your sweetie and go somewhere exotic on Valentine’s Day? Check out a movie with foodie flavors. Choose the right one and add spice to the sugar. Visit a small French village in Chocolat (2000); Like Water for Chocolate (1993) will take you to Mexico; 9½ Weeks (1986) with a young Mickey Rourke, and Kim Bassinger, might have more heat than you want, so check out the reviews first; Tampopo (1985) will have you noodling in Japan; and you can go tripping into history — and Britain — with Tom Jones (1963).
Romantic Destination
If you could choose any country to be in on Valentine’s Day weekend, where would you go?
Suggestion: If you can’t jet off on a plane, go anyway. How?
Love Italy? Choose an Italian restaurant.
Think the Greek islands are the most romantic spot imaginable? Valentine’s Day eve falls on a Saturday this year. Invite friends and have a love fest with food. For instance, plan a toga party with a Greek* menu.
With all this love and deliciousness in mind, who wants to join me in a vote that we extend Valentine’s Day and turn the entire month of February into Valentine’s Month? Any takers?
* Moussaka is good party fare. Click here to go epicurious.com for a recipe
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