GAZELLE MAGAZINE February 2017 | Page 74

CUISINE
Sugarfire Smokehouse : Chicken Biscuit with Honey Butter

Love Bites

By Suzanne Corbett
“ IN ANCIENT ROME , MEAD , A HONEY WINE , WAS DRUNK ON THE WEDDING NIGHT – THUS BEGINNING THE HONEYMOON .”

Valentine ’ s Day is near and Cupid is on the prowl , ready to shoot his arrows to create instant love in all he strikes . Guess that works for some , but not for me . I prefer to be seduced with food , especially those foods with a reputation to stir desires . Foods named for the Greek goddess of love , Aphrodite . Aphrodisiacs , foods that reportedly have the ability to make you want to satisfy more than one appetite .

Aphrodisiac by definition is a substance that increases sexual sensitivity or appetite . The key word here is appetite . For starters , consider honey . Called nature ’ s perfect food , honey has been the basic ingredient in countless love potions . In ancient Rome , mead , a honey wine , was drunk on the wedding night – thus beginning the honeymoon .
Since Aphrodite rose from the sea on a scallop shell , most shellfish are said to enhance the libido . Case in point , the oyster . A favorite of Casanova , the oyster is an excellent source of zinc , which happens to be a key mineral necessary to maintain male potency .
Strawberries and raspberries – described as fruit nipples – are a must for lovers , especially if they ’ re chocolate dipped . Chocolate , the ultimate food of choice for countless suitors has been considered a decadent indulgence since its discovery by the Aztecs , who only served it to royalty as a drink laced with cinnamon .
Let ’ s not forget herbs and spices , which promise to add zest to any amorous encounter . Red pepper and chilies are thought to fan the flames of desire , as are cinnamon , ginger and clove . Love potions and herbs go hand in hand . For me , Italian red sauces are my kind of love potion - sexy , rich and infused with basil that titillates the tongue . Basil is the classic herb associated with the quickening of romantic love . The smell can drive one wild with anticipation while garlic , whose reputation as good for one ’ s heart , is said to stir the heat within us .
Research can ’ t confirm any food as an aphrodisiac , discounting it as folklore . But who cares . The concept of aphrodisiacs still makes
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