Valentine’s Day: Plan a Romantic Evening

Surprise someone special by planning a romantic Valentine’s Day evening. This is a day of passion, love and romance with a lingering air of anticipation. Instead of splashing the cash why not make dinner for your loved one and add a more personal touch.

Food of Love:

There is no love sincerer than the love of food, so why not show your partner what they mean to you by cooking a delicious candlelit meal for two. It has been a myth for many years now that certain foods are known aphrodisiacs, linking food to sensuality. Many ingredients lay claim to libido-enhancing effect, so for the perfect romantic meal why not incorporate some well known foods related to this myth to ensure your evening is filled with love and romance.

Oysters have maintained a timeless mystique when it comes to passion and it has even been said ‘eat oysters love longer’- so it is no wonder that Casanova was said to eat 50 raw oysters a day. Even if this legend isn’t entirely true the oyster has secured a name for itself for being a quality high class dish. So oysters may not cause sexual desire or love, but many people have certainly fallen in love with oysters. They are eaten raw, smoked, boiled, baked, fried, roasted, stewed, canned, pickled, steamed and grilled. No matter which way you decide to cook them you are guaranteed to have your loved one eating out of your hand - or at least an oyster shell.

Try seducing your partner with the aroma of almonds and you could find you induce passion as well as producing a delicious dish for you both to enjoy as you gaze into each other's eyes. The aroma of almonds supposedly arouses passion in females - or so thought the poets and scribes. Almonds also provide high doses of vitamin E, magnesium and even fibre to improve your general well-being, making you feel better about yourself, therefore giving you more confidence. So test your culinary skills and make a chicken, parsley and almond salad to tease the taste buds and spread the seductive almond aroma.

Cardamom seeds are known as natural aphrodisiacs, acting like a general tonic, creating a good, positive mood. Intense, aromatic cardamom is high in cineole, an ingredient which can increase blood flow in the body. Get your lover's pulse racing with braised fennel with olives, thyme and cardamom for the perfect romantic taste sensation.

Have you got an appetite for love?

Whether these sexy treats have the magical, mood-enhancing properties ascribed to them or not, it is true that certain foods boost the immune system and are chock-full of nutrients and vitamins, such as B and E, that enhance our physical well-being and good looks, giving us the boost we need to be romantic and loving.

With all these delicious culinary delights being cooked for you on this romantic day you will need to wash them down with something equally as tantalizing. One of the world’s most potent natural beverages is Champagne. Thanks to a steady stream of delicate bubbles, Champagne hits the blood stream more quickly than wine, wrapping the body in a warm robe of intoxication. What could be a better compliment to a romantic dinner than a glass of bubbly? But Champagne's aphrodisiac allure is not just in its effervescence, the effect of the delicate aromas also stir the senses adding to the romance and allure of the evening.

To accompany the perfect romantic Valentine's Day dinner, you should ensure the ambiance is set to the right romantic tone. After lighting the candles turn on the music, there is nothing more romantic than having some relaxing music in the background. So if music be the food of love...play on.

- K.J.N -