Cook your way into your lover's heart

If you are not a European, the saying “love goes through the stomach” will probably puzzle you. It simply means that you can capture the heart of your lover with good food. Or in other words, when the tummy is happy, your partner will be happy as well and he will cherish you and your cooking skills. I don’t know a single man who would abandon a good cook in favour of a sexy blonde who serves him frozen pizzas or spaghetti out of a can. The appetite for sex wears off but the appetite for good food certainly doesn’t. That’s one of the reasons why many Italian men live with their mothers until they are ready to go to an old age home. So even in the nation of the world’s greatest lovers, the food always wins.

Another European saying is, “you eat with your eyes”. It means that food shouldn’t just taste good, it should also please the eye. When you see something beautifully arranged on the dinner plate, you are more inclined to take in the look, the smell and the taste. Why is that? Because you pay more attention to what you eat. Nobody will guzzle a piece of art that deserves to be gently taken apart and joyfully savoured.

Cooking sexy food is easier than you think. Just look at Jamie Oliver. Most of his cooking is made from fresh ingredients that not only taste but also look great. To him presentation is everything, even in his own humble male way. Food has to be vibrant in colour and texture and that goes even for the simplest of dishes. Just by adding a few herbs or the odd leaf of salad, the most amazing results can be achieved.

So why not surprise your loved one this Valentine’s day with some sexy home-made food? With a bottle of Champagne, a few candles, some romantic music and a few nicely arranged hors d’oeuvres you are very likely to find your way into your lovers stomach and ultimately his heart. So get creative and add a few nice touches. Dig out your cookie cutter and punch little hearts out of beet slices, cucumber, peppers, kiwi etc. Bake little heart shaped cookies. Garnish a soup or desert with whipped cream shaped into a heart. The possibilities are endless and it’s amazing what an effect little things like these can have.

So rather than buying an expensive present at the store, use your creativity and show your partner how much you care. And who knows, maybe your efforts will be contagious and by next year you will be cooking together in the kitchen as a couple. “Love goes through the stomach”, you’ll see what I mean.