Mood Food

Romantic meals are a fabulous way to show him how much you love him. If you want to seriously kick up the heat at the dinner table, make sure you stock it with a full spread of sensual foods that will ignite a little extra passion between the two of you. Here’s a quick primer of culinary aphrodisiacs.

• Grapes. They are the perfect sweet treat to hand feed your lover. One of the most powerful historical images of seduction involved this fruit being hand fed to Cleopatra by Marc Antony. Pop a few of these bite-size gems into his mouth and you’ve set the stage for an evening (or afternoon) of passion.

• Asparagus. This veggie is reported to have been served in the 19th century to grooms on their wedding days because of its potent aphrodisiac powers. Steam spears for a healthy and sensuous experience, dressing them with butter or olive oil to amp up the sexy flavour.

• Oysters. These little sea creatures are probably the first things that come to mind when thinking about food as an aphrodisiac. Comprised of water, protein and carbohydrates, plus small amounts of fat, sugar and minerals, it is widely thought that these have a powerful effect on the libido. Why not give this decadent treat a try to see if they get your motors running?

• Chocolate. Depending on who you ask, it is better than sex, but can it put you in the mood for love? It has long been revered for its romance-revving qualities and that is apparently thanks to phenylethylamine, a naturally occurring amino acid found in chocolate which has been considered to have special effects because it’s a substance released naturally in the human body when you're in love. Chocolate fondue, dipped strawberries or cake anyone?

• Red wine. When it comes to seduction, musky, masculine reds are best. You may also want to try an earthy Pinot or a burly Cabernet brimming with aromas of leather, tobacco and earth. Remember if you are using wine as an aphrodisiac the scent is key because those vintages containing masculine notes are believed to imitate the scent of male pheromones.