Sexy food to put you in the mood

For starters, to tickle the most apathetic taste buds, there’s, yes, the First Tickle and Nibble – pan-fried foie gras with caramelized smoked eel, watercress, and frisse salad. To further tease the now excited taste buds is the Sensuous Soup – light cream of artichoke soup with love-apple confit and pesto crisp. To cleanse the palate and get it ready for the next seduction is a glass of vapory honey-mint and ginseng sorbet. With your taste buds now fully aroused, you yield to the final temptation. The entree is simply called Exquisite Entree, which is – hold your breath now – black truffle crusted sea bass fillet on a bed of mushroom, risotto, asparagus and tomato crackling, and Tobiko Beurre Blanc. This sizzling romance with food can only have a happy ending – or Happy Endings. Happiness (or ecstasy?) is a trio of fresh fruits with mixed berries ice cream, chocolatier almond cluster in red raspberry. We’re giving you a taste of Aphrodite’s Menu that executive sous chef Jojo Borlagdan is preparing with a dollop of TLC (tender loving care) for the Valentine feast at Cafe Plaza Too of Hotel Philippine Plaza (soon to be known as Sofitel Philippine Plaza) from Feb. 13 to 28.

But that’s just the a la carte Valentine menu. There’s a lot to love about the Valentine buffet at Cafe Plaza Too, too: sumptuous salads, fresh seafood galore, hot off-the-grill items, appetizers paired with fruit combinations like pears, apples, green mango and orange, and the most sinful chocolate desserts (this side of chocolate heaven), as only chocolate man Rolando Macatangay – just call him Chef Mac – can whip up.

As if the "sexy" lunch we recently had at Cafe Plaza wasn’t enough, Chef Jojo, ably assisted by three hunks – models Rocky Camus and Jason Pennings and Brendan Brophy from Down Under – gave a demo of how to mix a drink called Oyster Shooters and treated everyone who cared (or dared) to a round of his heartwarming Valentine concoction. Bottoms up, ladies and gents!

Chef Jojo’s Oyster Shooters is a fiery combination of four jiggers of pineapple juice, two jiggers of tequila, and one teaspoon each of the following: ginger, pepper, mango, onion, and chili. If that doesn’t put you in the mood for love, this intoxicating concoction can put you to sleep and make you forget you’re date-less on Valentine’s Day.

Through the ages, alcohol has been known as an aphrodisiac because it can rid you of all inhibitions and, yes, put you in the mood. Of course, having one too many may have the opposite effect. As Shakespeare said in Macbeth, "It increases the desire, but it takes away the performance."

Another time-cherished aphrodisiac is coffee although there’s a brewing controversy on this. According to Dr. Paola Sandroni of the Mayo Clinic, coffee and anything that contains caffeine may appear to be aphrodisiacs – like cocaine and amphetamines – because they stimulate the central nervous system, but they have "no specific effects on sexual desire." So coffee addicts are not necessarily addicted to sex.

An aphrodisiac is something (drug, food, scent or device) that claims to improve the libido (believe it or not). It is really difficult to prove/disprove this claim. It could be the brain releasing certain chemicals to stimulate the body.

The Book of Lists lists the following as the top 10 foods popularly claimed as aphrodisiacs:

• Asparagus. This plant with edible young shoots contains a diuretic that excites the urinary passages and increases the amount of urine excreted. It’s got potassium, phosphorus, and calcium – all key ingredients in keeping a high energy level. On the other hand, it contains aspartic acid, which neutralizes excess amounts of ammonia in the body and may cause apathy and sexual disinterest. Ever heard of these lines: Not tonight, Honey! I had too much asparagus!

• Caviar. This precious salted roe of large fish is 30 percent protein. All fish and their by-products share a divine affinity with the goddess of love Aphrodite. Fish on earth and good sex to all men!

• Eel. Like most fish, it’s rich in phosphorus and has an excitant effect on the bladder. And it’s got a phallic look, too.

• Garlic. Both Eastern and Western cultures have long prized garlic as an aphrodisiac. Oriental lovers claim to become towers of strength after eating this bulbous herb.

• Ginseng. The Chinese call it the elixir of life. They’ve got all of 5,000 years to back up this claim. Experiments claim this Chinese perennial herb has a general healing and rejuvenating effect on the body.

On the other hand, the Korean red ginseng is so potent it has been shown to increase testosterone levels.

• Honey. This sweet substance gathered from the nectar of plants and stored in the honeycomb by bees is rich in minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and B-complex vitamins. It’s also a favorite term of endearment.

• Lobster. It’s described by the incurable romantics as an "amatory excitant."

• Oysters. This bivalve mollusk is one of the most renowned aphrodisiacs. Among eminent lovers in history who swore by oysters was Italian adventurer Giovanni Giacomo Casanova who called it "a spur to the spirit and to love." It is said that he ate 50 oysters for breakfast. But Casanova once said that women were his cuisine.

• Peaches. The shape of this fruit is likened to the female genitalia. Enough said.

• Truffles. The most expensive underground fungi, they’re rich in protein. Napoleon, Sade, and Mme. Pompadour are some of the most famous truffle eaters in history. They certainly didn’t run away from truffles.

But an ancient French proverb warns, "Those who wish to live virtuous lives should abstain from truffles."

So, don’t go looking for truffles.

And then there are the little-known aphrodisiacs. Celery is said to contain androsterone (male hormone). Other vegetables like carrots, fennel, and onions are supposedly good for the libido.

As for fruit aphrodisiacs, bananas top the list. Bananas contain ingredients (bromelain enzyme, among others) that are supposed to improve the male libido. But there’s no conclusive proof on this.

With its abundant seeds, the pomegranate is a symbol of fertility.

As for nuts, the gingko nut can drive you nuts. It is said to improve blood circulation to the extremities of the body, which helps improve the libido.

Don’t forget to take your oats for breakfast and enjoy its effect at bedtime. Oats supposedly encourage the release of testosterone in males to give the libido a lift.

Sexperts say that herbs and spices not only add spice to our food but to our lives as well. They say basil, cardamon, saw palmetto, pepper, etc. can spice up one’s sex life.

So, what’s your aphrodisiac? Whatever it is, remember to always take it with a grain of salt. Like they say, it’s all in the mind: If you believe it works, it will.

* * *

We’d love to hear from you. E-mail us at ching_alano@yahoo.com