Now we all think of Aphrodite and hence aphrodisiacs as some kind of food or drink to promote passion between lovers. There has to be a spark of passion before the wonders of aphrodisiacs work.
Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love, Beauty and Desire certainly plays an amazing part in getting lovers ‘into the mood’. But I hasten to add that it’s the catalyst not the cause.
Let me explain, I can cook a veritable feast of ‘aphrodisiacs’ but if Wanda is tired or sulky all the aphrodisiacs in the world won’t help. The spark – maybe it’s a bunch of roses, a trip to the theatre, a gift of lingerie, a body massage or even a big kiss…So aphrodisiacs come in a variety of guises.
On his third date with Wanda Roque picked her up by taxi from her office studio for lunch. It was a glorious spring day and he had booked a table at Ti Adoro, his favourite Italian restaurant.
Wanda appeared wrapped in a film star like faux fur coat of Fire Gold Fox tied with a red leather belt. They kissed and then she said “darling I just couldn’t decide what to wear to seduce you so…” untying the belt and opening her coat she said “so as you see I’m wearing nothing except my favourite Pour Moi red knickers, red high heel shoes, stockings and suspenders”.
Now that’s what we call an aphrodisiac – the road to teasing him with thoughts of passion throughout lunch and making sure all the aphrodisiacs on the menu have their chance!
Roque said “ my point is that you have to create a spark to make a fire”. It’s interesting that Aphrodite’s father, the roman god Zeus, married her off to Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire & blacksmiths. Lasting love is indeed a skill and a well-honed craft!
Wanda and Roque had a great love of food and they had a lust not just for tasting food but for embracing it, make it a celebration of passion and making beautiful music from culinary delights. The dishes they chose kindled romance, an ode to love and inevitably desire.
Roque loved to cook for his lover, to blend aphrodisiacs, to massage flavours, and to woo her tonight he would first prepare the room, Jasmine incense, soft lighting, Thelonious Monk playing Misterioso on the jazz grand piano – an aphrodisiac of high intention!
Roque recalled just what fun they had had late one night on a grand piano when all the guests had left the restaurant, and they were alone…her music to his ears!
The foreplay was to commence with pan fried king scallops, tossed in fresh lemon juice and Worcester sauce served in a scallop shell on a bed of watercress drizzled with garlic oil and a chilled bottle of Mirabeau La Folie Sparkling Rosé from Provence with hints of passion fruit and Mexican limes.
Having tasted these beautiful scallops she was smitten – must be the aphrodisiacs…
The main event was a classic sexy Scillian dish where fingers were needed – always a very seductive touch and perfect for licking!
The dish was steamed, stuffed artichokes served with wedges of Scillian lemon (the best you can get) and presented on a bed of fragrant jasmine rice, topped with tiny chunks of Spanish chorizo.
Roque prepared some ciabatta breadcrumbs, mixed with Pecorino Romano cheese, minced fresh sticky garlic, chopped flat leaf parsley and the finest ‘extra virgin’ olive oil creating a divine mixed stuffing.
Now he took some large, vibrant green artichokes, trimmed the leaves by about one third and removed any tired outer leaves. He then removed the furry inside and spread the leaves ready for stuffing then boiled them in lemon water for 40 minutes until the outer leaves pull away easily.
Using a spoon he packed the artichokes with the stuffing then popped them into a hot oven for 30 minutes In the meantime he steamed the rice. Now on dinner plates he made a nest of Jasmine rice and placed the artichoke there adding a sprinkling of parsley, a flourish of chorizo and the fresh lemon wedges... Thelonious Monk played on to this dish oozing with sexy aphrodisiacs.
Wanda took his hand and gently squeezed it “thank you my darling, this is a taste of heaven”. His reward was to come later – lucky chap!
They pulled the leaves, forked the rice and spooned the filling onto artichoke leaves.
Plates were eventually cleared, and it was time for their ‘Just Dessert’. A dish Wanda had originally created having enjoyed it in Italy.
A melee of bananas, fresh figs and juicy mango seared on a grill with brown sugar and served with minted crème fraiche and Groovy Food agave (cactus) syrup. Again, a marriage of wonderful aphrodisiacs.
Wanda stood up, took his hand and said ”it’s bedtime, it’s fun time now my lover…”.
Their motto ‘Cook to love, love to cook”.
With love Wanda and Roque xx
