Forget everything you’ve heard about aphrodisiacs. Oysters and other cliches? Whatever. This Valentine’s Day have a meal that will really have you going – for scientific reasons.Aphrodisiacs are often a combination of bad science and good intuition. However, there are two failsafe ingredients that can make a truly aphrodisiac food: chemical kick, or a sensual texture.Too many Valentine’s Day menus rely entirely on the second one to make up all the fun. Slippery, slimy, sexy foods? Great – but it’s not going to help if you don’t have some food chemistry to kick-start your libido.With this in mind, here is a truly aphrodisiac menu that combines the two. No fireside bear rug or cheap champagne necessary – this is a menu that you can make at home, relatively inexpensively, for a truly sizzling evening.
To drink: Red wine is the most aphrodisiacal drink by far. It’s the antioxidants and the texture. It boosts blood flow and brings a flush to the cheeks – nothing sets the mood like a good red.
Starter: Fondue is back in vogue as a sensual starter. It might seem slightly silly, but it’s all about setting the mood at this point, and the fun of picking pieces of bread and dipping them in sticky cheese is a messy, glorious sensory experience. Don’t have too much, as an excess of dairy is not the best recipe for a hot night – just enough to begin getting giggly.
Amuse bouche: If you’d like to space out the evening, bring in prawns, whether sizzled on the barbecue or placed lightly on a piece of avocado with some pepper. Amuse bouches are designed to be swallowed in just one mouthful, so keep it small!
Why prawns? They’re high in zinc, the secret life-saver of the bedroom. Your zinc levels have a big role in determining the strength of your orgasm, so it’s wise to stock up for toe-tingling encounters later.
Main courses: If you’re both deeply carnivorous, tuck into a rack of lamb encrusted with herbs. The protein is a necessary boost to your libido’s stamina, and will probably leave you reeling with anticipation for other fleshy pleasures (though, again, don’t eat too much.)
Your other wonder-food for bedroom excellence is salmon in soy, ginger and garlic. It’s an amazing recipe combining all the spices that are proven to make an impact on your libido.
Soy helps lubrication, ginger is an ancient aphrodisiac that increases circulation and sensitivity, and garlic is fantastic for erections – it releases an enzyme particularly for that purpose. Wonder foods indeed.
Sides: You’re going to think this is silly, but spinach is one of the best libido-boosters there is. Why? Magnesium. It dilates blood vessels, meaning strong erections and blood flow to intimate parts. Popeye was, oddly, onto something.
Dessert: Now this is one place where the folk wisdom is overwhelmingly true – chocolate is definitely the way forward. It’s a massive endorphin boost, particularly to women – the scientific studies done have shown that, served in basically any form except burnt, chocolate is irresistible and makes for a suitable introduction to the bedroom.
However, go above and beyond – ignore the typical strawberries or raspberries, and go instead for beautiful figs, cooked in honey. Figs are historical aphrodisiacs, and there’s not much science behind it, but you can’t deny the sensual lure of their shape and taste.
Are you ready for this Valentine’s Day?
Lady Friday xx
Taking the pillow talk out of the bedroom, every Friday…
