William Shakespeare once wrote, “If music be the food of love, play on.” I say, “If certain foods are the foods of love, then let’s eat them!” All in moderation of course!

It is a scientific fact that certain foods stimulate blood flow and in turn stimulate amorous responses in the person that consumes the food. Make your Valentine’s Day extra special this year by designing a meal consisting of “the foods of love.” To use cooking terms, allow your passions to simmer slowly, then slowly turn up the heat and eventually boil over!

It is said that Italians are great lovers…or let’s say very very passionate people. The Italian diet contains “foods of love” such as garlic, basil, pine nuts in pesto, chili peppers used as a spice, and truffles used in risotto and pasta dishes. The number one Italian food that could be considered a “food of love” is of course the tomato.

The tomato may be, in effect, the cause for a healthy “love” drive. A tomato’s colour is significant because it’s red, and red is the colour of love. Tomatoes are often called the “love apple” and have been scientifically proven to be a “superfood.” Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, especially when they are cooked, which is believed to reduce the risk of cancer and they also contain Vitamins A and C. So they are very good for maintaining our chemical balance and in turn, good health leads to good romance. So get that tomato sauce on the boil and have a romantic dinner for two with Spaghetti al Pomodoro!

Garlic has been one of the most popular ancient aphrodisiac remedies. It increases the blood flow, stimulates the secretion of gastric juices and aids digestion. It is said to stir amorous desires. It is okay to put a little extra garlic in your tomato sauce on Valentine’s Day, however, too much garlic can be a turn off if both parties smell too strongly of “garlic breath!”

Basil is also said to stimulate the romantic needs and boost fertility after the passionate desires have been consummated. It is said to cause a sense of general well being for the mind and body. So if you are feeling fine, you are more likely to be in the mood for love. Basil can be used in your tomato sauce, pesto and Caprese Salad which is vine ripened tomatoes with fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and buffalo mozzarella. Let basil give you the “green” light for romance!

Pine nuts are rich in zinc. Zinc is a key mineral necessary to maintain males in a functioning mode for romance. They have been used to stimulate desire as far back as medieval times. That is probably why there are medieval stories of lovers being out in the forest and becoming overwhelmed with mad passion. They had been snacking on pine nuts! Now you don’t have to trek out to the forest with your lover, just use the pine nuts in your pesto and serve the pesto on top of pasta or pizza!

For the hot Italian lovers who use chili peppers in their cooking, there is a reason things get heated up on the love front. Spicy foods are generally connected to heat. The link is made between the heat of the food and the ensuing “heat” of passion. Chili peppers increase the body’s metabolism, including heart rate and blood flow therefore supposedly increasing the flow of fascination. Heat things up with some chili peppers and you’ll be feeling, as the song goes, “hot, hot, hot!”

Truffles are a rare and delicate type of edible mushroom. Truffles grow underground among the roots of elm, chestnut, oak, pine and willow trees. Truffles’ musky odour is caused by a combination of the pheromone androstenol and the steroid androstenone. Apparently, this musky odour can have an amourous effect on pigs. This is why they are also found in a spray called Boar Mate which is used by farmers to help calm the sow and get her more in the mood for artificial insemination. I guess old McDonald knew exactly what do on his farm, that is fine if you are a pig farmer, but what about the truffle effect on humans? One theory is that the smell of musk which is a popular cologne ingredient has commonly been associated with romance and that love induced by truffles is a phenomenon which is part of an established behavioural link between musk and romance. White or black truffles are high priced and have a very pungent taste. Truffles are among the most expensive foods in the world. Depending on the size of the truffle, they can sell for $300 to 500 US dollars, hence this is why they are to be used sparingly and are generally served raw, and shaved paper thin over various foods. So if you want to impress your mate add some truffles overtop your risotto and then watch the sparks of romance fly!

There other foods that are considered “foods of love.” Some other examples are bananas, oysters and, of course, chocolate.

Bananas are rich in potassium and B vitamins which are necessities for “love hormone” production and function. So you can literally “go bananas” and perhaps make Bananas Foster for dessert. Its made with bananas, vanilla ice cream, with a sauce made from butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum and banana liqueur. The butter, sugar and bananas are cooked, and then the alcohol is added and ignited. The bananas and sauce are served over the ice cream. You can impress your better half by performing and preparing this delectable dessert as a flambé. But whatever you do don’t wear too much hairspray that evening otherwise your hair will go up in smoke and that would not result in a romantic ending to your evening!

Oysters have the distinction of being the most widely considered “love food.” The actual truth is that oysters are high in protein and are very nutritious. Oysters are rich in zinc and iron. Iron is very important for the transport of oxygen through our systems. You certainly need lots of oxygen if you are in store for a romantic evening! Zinc is an essential element for stimulating our metabolism which in turn stimulates our desire for close personal amorous contact. Oysters also contain on average 18 micrograms of Vitamin B12 which is a Vitamin that plays a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system and for the formation of blood. All these must be operating normally in order for any “love” responses to happen automatically. So go ahead, have an oyster feast and then have a love feast!

What woman in their right mind would say no to chocolate? Aside from the wonderful taste of chocolate, it contains phenylethylamine, the same chemical that is released in the brain when you fall in love. The sweetness from the chocolate also triggers the release of endorphins. Other stimulants present in chocolate are dopamine and serotonin, which alleviate pain and encourage a good mood. No wonder we love chocolate so much! Get me a box of Lindt Lindor Truffles and I will agree to cook you anything!

The “foods to put you in the mood” can be used as a prelude to romance….That’s Amore. Have a happy Valentine’s Day to all you lovers out there and buon appetito!