Heat up Valentine’s with this aphrodisiac menu

Caffeine is a well-known stimulant that helps improve blood flow in both body and mind (but be careful, as too much caffeine, like alcohol, can also be a depressant). Vanilla, according to Mexican lore, is a powerful romance-enhancer. Legend has it that Xanat, the young daughter of the Mexican fertility goddess, transformed herself into a vanilla plant when thwarted in the desire to marry a mere human. As a vanilla plant, the tale goes, she would provide pleasure and happiness for evermore. And indeed, vanilla’s aroma has been proven to evoke a pleasant and romantic feeling in most people.

Oooooh! Oysters…
Oysters get much of their love-enhancing reputation from their appearance and the mouth-feel of swallowing them whole. However, because they are rich in zinc and iron, there may well be some science behind the potency promise. Iron is known for its transport of oxygen through our systems, and zinc is an essential element for stimulating our metabolism, which in turn creates energy. Oysters also contain on average 18 micrograms of Vitamin B12, another metabolism booster.

(A word of caution: Shellfish spoils quickly, so be sure to buy oysters only if the shells are tightly closed. Oysters will show their freshness by "flinching" when you squeeze lemon juice on them. Also, the rule of only eating oysters in the months that contain the letter R is a good guide to follow — non R months mean warmer water temperature, which may promote bacterial growth. In addition, always buy fresh oysters from reputable retailers, and have them pack them in a plastic bag with ice for you to bring home.)

Put your faith in figs (and arugula and truffles)
Figs have long been a symbol of love and fertility. (The breaking open of a fig and eating it in front of your lover is said to be a powerful erotic act, so be sure to eat figs with your fingers for the most sensuous effect.) Meanwhile, the musky scent of the truffle, the rarest of the fungi family, is said to stimulate us and to make our skin more sensitive to the touch. And arugula, a pungent salad green, is one of the first foods documented as an aphrodisiac (in the first century A.D.). Here’s a tempting salad, from the Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne, Fla., which combines all these ingredients and more:

Fresh Figs, Prosciutto and Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan and Truffle Vinaigrette
(Serves 2)

2 fresh figs, cut into half
2 very thin prosciutto slices
1 cup arugula leaves
2 pieces shaved Parmesan cheese, approx. 2x3 inches
Truffle Vinaigrette (see recipe below)

Lay the prosciutto slices onto the center of a plate. Place the cut figs on either side of the prosciutto. Toss the arugula leaves with the truffle vinaigrette and place in between the figs, and then lay the parmesan slices onto the arugula salad. Bon appetit!

Truffle Vinaigrette
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons Jerez (sherry) vinegar
2 drops white truffle oil
1 teaspoon minced black truffles
Salt and pepper, to taste

Place all ingredients into a bowl and whisk, season to taste with salt and pepper.

Groovy garlic
And the ultimate aphrodisiac may just be the one that is the most surprising. Yes, GARLIC. (So maybe those onion-avoiding pharaohs weren’t too far off the mark….)
Used for centuries in Europe and among the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Japanese, garlic was one of the most widespread aphrodisiac remedies. It is said to stimulate the secretion of gastric juices, thus aiding digestion and increasing the blood flow.

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