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As I’ve mentioned before, our Dinner Club meals are not always focused around a particular ethnicity. We typically have a theme for the evening, but these themes vary widely from ethnic focus to particular ingredient features to time periods and so on.
This month’s Dinner Club is an “aphrodisiac foods” night. Our group researched a bit on what foods are considered the top line of stimulating fare from our culture and others around the world. The Chinese in particular are famous for their medicine shops which always include unrecognizable, dried and jarred items that only Andrew Zimmern would dare put in his mouth! Our group (a bit less adventurous than Andrew, of Bizarre Foods fame) was seeking the foods of love in a more appealing and palatable format for our culture.
According to the website www.fuelthemind.com, “The interest in aphrodisiac foods began when Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, rose from the sea on an oyster and then gave birth to Eros. The first aphrodisiac food was born.” For information purposes, our group is comprised of six happily married couples. We’re not “that kind of group,” in case you’re wondering!
Again, according to fuelthemind.com, “An aphrodisiac food can be suggestive, rather than cause a physical…reaction. In fact, many believe that some aphrodisiac foods increase and stimulate…desire by the suggestive nature of the food and the ritual surrounding the food presentation.
In other words, our group is seeking this beautiful presentation of delicious and exotic flavor combinations much the same as those in love seek the romantic ambience of a dimly lit restaurant for a Valentine’s Day dinner. We plan to simply enjoy some soothing and romantic jazz music, some candlelight, and what looks to be an overwhelmingly delicious meal!
I’ve provided our menu below (with the aphrodisiac elements in each course underlined for reference) so you can have a peek at what we’ll be enjoying for the night! I’ve also supplied just one list of the many available online for what are considered some of the best aphrodisiac foods. The list is a partial one, reprinted from the website: www.gourmetsleuth.com, and has some entertaining tidbits about why the foods are considered erotic.
More later this week on my entrée recipe (since we’re the host house this time), the “Pepper Crusted Beef with Chocolate Port Sauce”. Enjoy!
Some Aphrodisiac Foods (For the complete list, visit www.gourmetsleuth.com)
Almond
A symbol of fertility throughout the ages. The aroma is thought to induce passion in a female. Try serving Marzipan (almond paste) in the shapes of fruits for a special after-dinner treat.
Aniseed
A very popular aphrodisiac with many culinary uses. It has been used as an aphrodisiac since the Greeks and the Romans, who believed aniseed had special powers. Sucking on the seeds is said to increase your desire.
Arugula
Arugula or "rocket" seed has been documented as an aphrodisiac since the first century A.D. This ingredient was added to grated orchid bulbs and parsnips and also combined with pine nuts and pistachios.
Avocado
The Aztecs called the avocado tree "Ahuacuatl which translated means "testicle tree". The ancients thought the fruit hanging in pairs on the tree resembled the male's testicles. This is a delicious fruit with a sensuous texture. Serve in slices with a small amount of Balsamic vinegar and freshly ground pepper.
Basil (sweet basil)
Is said to stimulate the sex drive and boost fertility. It is also said to produce a general sense of well being for body and mind.
Broccoli Rabe (And Other Mustard Greens)
The ground seeds of various plants in the brassica family were believed to increase virility. In the case of broccoli rabe its more likely a myth created to get people to eat this bitter vegetable.
Chocolate
The Aztecs referred to chocolate "nourishment of the Gods". Chocolate contains chemicals thought to effect neurotransmitters in the brain and a related substance to caffeine called theobromine. Chocolate contains more antioxidant (cancer preventing enzymes) than does red wine. The secret for passion is to combine the two. Try a glass of Cabernet with a bit of dark chocolate for a sensuous treat…
Coffee
Caffeine is a well-know stimulant but remember, too much and it becomes a depressant. Serve small amounts of rich dark coffee in special little demitasse cups. Coffee stimulates both the body and the mind so partake of a little in preparation for an "all-nighter".
Garlic
The 'heat' in garlic is said to stir sexual desires. Make sure you and your partner share it together. Garlic has been used for centuries to cure everything from the common cold to heart ailments. This is a good time for moderation. Enjoy a pasta with a lightly garlicky sauce and it can lead up to something spicy in the bedroom later.
Ginger
Ginger root raw, cooked or crystallized is a stimulant to the circulatory system. Perhaps a stir-fry with freshly grated ginger can stir something spicy up in the bedroom later.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg was highly prized by Chinese women as an aphrodisiac. In quantity nutmeg can produce a hallucinogenic effect. A light sprinkling of the spice in a warm pumpkin soup can help spice up your evening.
Pine Nuts
Zinc is a key mineral necessary to maintain male potency and pine nuts are rich in zinc. Pine nuts have been used to stimulate the libido as far back as Medieval times. Serve pine nut cookies with a dark espresso for a stimulating dessert.
Raspberries and Strawberries
Perfect foods for hand feeding your lover. "Both invite love and are described in erotic literature as fruit nipples" Both are high in vitamin C and make a sweet light dessert.
