Valentine's table setting
For the most sensuous foods to serve this coming Valentine’s Day, think those that incorporate all five senses in your menu and by all means pick those you can eat with your fingers. Valentine’s Day is for love and lovers; think sound, sight, touch, smell and of course taste. The goal is to increase relaxation and promote sociability if you catch the flow.
Start by opening a bottle of champagne. Whatever your pocketbook can afford determines what you buy. Just make sure, the spirit is effervescent and feels good in the mouth when imbibed. Offer a bite of chocolate to drink with the bubbly and savor the two together.
Oysters on the half shell come next. A few years back a team of American and Italian researchers analyzed bivalve mollusks – a group of shellfish that includes oysters – and found they were rich in rare amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones. That is what you are looking for.
Your next course is a medley of raw fruits and vegetables known for their aphrodisiac qualities. Present each side by side on a large platter and let the eyes luxuriate on the feast while the mouth juices excite at the prospect of taste.
Include the following: the avocado is a silky, mild fruit that has a reputation as an aphrodisiac extending back to ancient Aztec times; figs have long been a symbol of love and fertility; add asparagus whose shape contributes to the belief in this vegetable’s aphrodisiac properties and is both tactile and delicious; include a pomegranate. It has 613 seeds and can be fun watching your partner savor each seed-one at a time; almonds are an ancient symbol of fertility extending back to Biblical times. Their sweet fragrance may also serve as a sexual attractant.
And then there is chocolate again, the most sensual of all on your menu. The creamy sweet taste left on the palate makes for a grand finale and sets the stage for the rest of the evening.
