"Great food is like great sex. The more you have the more you want" (Gael Greene)

Gael Greene knows a thing or two about great food, as New York Magazine’s food critic for 34 years; Gael practically defined what was fabulous about dining throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s.  She also infamously spent an afternoon with Elvis Presley and one can only hope that the title of rockstar referred to his presence both on and off stage…

Seeing as Ms Greene has experience abound, I thought I’d look to her for thoughts on the art of creating a fabulous meal: the skills and emotions involved in producing a great meal are exactly those at play in making great sex: passion, timing, sensitivity, the adventurous appetite, the brilliant chance of pace, the shock of surprise.  When put like that I can hardly wait to don my apron, whip out the whisk and create a masterpiece for my loved one.  And what better time to lay your heart on the table than Valentines Day?  Oysters on the half shelf?  Something a little spicy and sizzling for the main course?  Chocolate dipped strawberries?  Perhaps a little something to feed the libido?  I read recently that asparagus, when crushed and made into a powder, is so powerful that it should be used with caution and, if taken during daytime, erection often results.  Which would certainly offer the “shock of surprise” that Gael was referring to. 

Should cooking not be your forte, or your home not offer the intimate surroundings that you’d hope for, then do as many others do and make reservations for a romantic meal.  IBIS World, a leading market research firm predicts a 3.3% increase on last year’s Valentines dining, accounting for a whopping $17.6 billion in sales, in the US alone.  Choose wisely though will a contrived and over-priced evening leave you lusting for more?  Perhaps not, but what are those meals or individual dishes that you’ve thought about days and weeks after you ate them?  I often find myself thinking about meals that I’ve had in the past, some dishes are even elevated to the realm of food fantasy – flavors so divine that I can only hope they pass my lips again.  If there’s a restaurant in your locale that offers up the kind of food that you dream about, then that’s the place to take your loved one.  After all, waxing lyrical about the food that you love is sure to enhance the mood more than the off-key violinist playing in the corner of the restaurant.

Dining-out or dining-in, the choice is yours but lets all hope for a meal that has us begging for more…