Here are 5 foods that will surely bring you closer on Valentine’s Day.?
1. Oysters
There’s no truth to claims that these bivalves are aphrodisiacs, but oysters are loaded with zinc, which your body needs to make proteins and DNA, and it can help you fight off bacteria. Though the science is not so sexy, oysters are romantic “because what makes food romantic is its visceral nature, and oysters are extremely visceral,” says Sims McCormick, cofounder of Real Oyster Cult, which sources and curates oysters from sustainable farms and ships them overnight. “The fresh smell of the sea when you shuck the oyster, the merroir [the liquid that spills from it], the feel of plump, sweet meat in your mouth — it’s sensual.”?
2. Caviar
Another food that claims to stimulate desire, caviar or fish eggs are said to have been a favorite of Casanova. Roe is rich in vitamins and minerals such as omega 3 (good for healthy circulatory and immune systems) and vitamin B12 (keeps nerve and blood cells healthy). Because caviar is so pricey, it’s in that category of decadent things that people want to splurge on to show a lover they are worth it. “It’s effervescent and crunchy, and that makes it sexy,” McCormick says, adding that it’s nice to place those sexy eggs atop an oyster.
3. Chocolate
The dark, silky candy has always had the cultural cachet of being a special, romantic treat. Chocolate contains the chemical phenylethylamine, a stimulant that appears to have positive effects on mood and triggers the release of pleasurable endorphins. But chocolate’s voluptuous, creamy mouth feel is what keeps Valentine’s Day gifters coming back for more. Again, scarcity will increase desire, so spring for something artisanal and high-end in the chocolate world — whether it’s milk, dark or white chocolate — that’s unique with complex flavors you can talk about.
4. Lobster
Lobster is often a bit messy, which can translate to romance. “There is something sensual about eating with your fingers,” Daguin says. She suggests boiling the lobster with lots of hot spices and salt and pepper, so you don’t have to reseason, and keeping it in the shell. Then dip it in truffle butter and share. The decadence of a morsel of lobster meat with hot butter dripping from it is hard to rival
5. Wagyu Beef or Venison
Cooking something with a special ingredient always makes it more meaningful, Daguin says. Wagyu beef, with its highly marbled meat, is exceedingly tender and melts in your mouth with a rich and almost buttery taste, while a pink cut of venison evokes the outdoors. Paired with a red wine sauce, venison is a bit more inventive than traditional steak.?