The Aphrodisiac Menu

Pomegranate

The pomegranate is the ultimate fruit of temptation. For the Ancient Greeks, it was the crux of Persephone, who ate its seeds and created the seasons. In some translations of the bible, it is a pomegranate, not an apple, that Eve plucks from the garden of Eden.

This pomegranate soup from Iranian Chef Hoss Zaré (@chefhosszare) may not alter the course of world history, but it’s worth finding out if it will alter the course of your romantic night.

Eggs

Historically a symbol of fertility and new life, eggs were once a staple in the court of Louis XV, where they were whipped with ginger and fed to France’s nobility to promote fertility.

If raw eggs don’t do it for you, Venetian blogger Skye McAlpine’s Zabaglione* with baked peaches definitely will. (*Zabaglione is an Italian egg-white custard.)

Uni

For thousands of years, Uni (also known as sea urchin roe) was a delicacy and known aphrodisiac in Japan. Around the 1980s, it gained popularity in North America and won hearts with its briny flavour and unparalleled creamy texture.

This Uni pasta from Brian Vu (@HungryHuy) bucks the traditional use of Uni in sushi and brings it to life against a soft backdrop of homemade noodles – just the thing to keep your date on their toes.

Chocolate

Before chocolate became the sugary weak spot for sweet tooth’s the world over, the Ancient Aztecs consumed cocoa as a bitter coffee-like drink, though they had a very different purpose in mind. Cocoa, they believed, was a powerful aphrodisiac, so much so that the Emperor of Montezuma allegedly consumed fifty cups of brewed beans before embarking on romantic rendez-vous. Spending records also show that England’s King Charles II spent more each year on chocolate than on his mistresses.

If you’re looking for a royal boost in the season of love, might we suggest this Chocolate Biscuit Cake by former Royal Chef Darren McGrady. Queen Elizabeth reportedly can’t get enough of it – though we won’t be so bold as to speculate why…

Oysters

Oysters owe their status as aphrodisiacs in part to Aphrodite, who rose from the sea and bestowed all its creatures with a hint of the erotic. Their infamy grew with the support of such famed lovers as Roman Emperor Vitellius, who supposedly ate a thousand in one sitting, and Casanova, who ate fifty oysters on the half shell each morning.

To tap into some divine power this Valentine’s day, try these baked oysters from Toronto chef and Greek food expert Peter Minaki (@kalofagas). They are a blessing from the gods.

Red Wine

If it was good enough for Marc Antony and Cleopatra, who are we to question it? The love affair between Egypt’s greatest queen and the Roman general descended from Hercules withstood political turmoil and endless gossip until the very end. Though it may have ended in tragedy, it began with red wine.

For a love that could take on an empire, red wine is the way to go. This Beaujolais from the vineyards of Marcel Lapierre comes recommended by the head chef of Montréal’s famous restaurant, Joe Beef (@joebeef).