Mood Food

Yesterday's New York Times Dining section featured an article about aphrodisiacs. There are certain foods and aromas that we associate with love and romance . There are some obvious answers and some surprises as well in the article written by Sarah Kershaw,



Aphrodisiacs as the article explains, have been around since ancient times. The early Greeks and Romans as well as those living during the Medieval period relied on certain dishes to rev up the libido. They believed that honey, saffron olives grapes basil and pine nuts were the key to a successful night of lust and love. Nowadays we tend to gravitate towards aparagus, avocados along with figs and cucumbers.Garlic is surprisingly considered an aphrodisiac/ Keep that in mind when your'e ordering either Italian or Chinese this Sunday night. Chocolate is also powerful aphrodisiac Both it's taste and its' smell can drive people wild.



Food aromas are also big as Ms. Kershaw explains . There is a restaurant, the Fat Duck, in Bray England where the chef fills the air with steamed hay. Yes, hay, because its' aroma is reminiscent of romantic autumn hay rides.according tot he chef, Heston Blumenthal It gets his diners in the mood for some of the restaurants more romantic offerings. However men andwomen also love the smell of licorice. The aroma of the popular licorice candy Good N Plenty drives both sexes wild as doe s the aroma of doughnuts for men and cucumbers for women (I'll let the Freudians dissect that one)



If you want to make Valentine's Day exciting go the aphrodisiac route. There's all sorts of foods and scents out there that'll take the romance a step further. All you need is love and a few Good and Plentys