With Valentine’s Day (or single awareness day as I like to call it), just around the corner, it has become time to start conceptualizing some special menu items for the restaurant. Since in my opinion I feel dinner is the way most couples who decide to go out are likely to celebrate this special day, I don’t take it lightly. In the past my focus has been to treat the meal as foreplay since I’m sure in most cases the meal won’t be the “climax” of the evening but just the begining (if you catch my drift).
I chose the title “Foodies Block” for my blog based on the term “writer’s block.” I would use the term to describe the state of blankness my head would go into when trying to create special dishes for each evening or (which was most often the case), holidays. When faced with "foodie’s block," I usually would go for a walk, drive or chat with friends in hopes of clearing my head in order to allow inspiration to enter. It was in these short little wanderings that I found the locations and eateries I write about. In the past year or so those wanderings meant never leaving the kitchen and included social media. Sites like Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare have been instrumental in taking me to that special clear headed state.
My methods are unorthodox but hey, they work. In another unusual moment of spontaneity, I decided to ask my fellow twitter buddy Aurora Snow to help me choose 5 foods considered to be aphrodisiacs. I would then use these culinary “love potions” as a basis for specials to be served on Valentine’s day. If you don’t know who she is….well, when I first met her, I didn’t either. Something I hoped she was not offended by as now I have come to learn how popular she really is. She's an adult actress.
Before you start questioning my judgment here; I ask you, "can you think of a more qualified “sexpert” than someone who works in the San Fernando Valley?" Yeah, me either. Don't judge.
When asked I half expected her to take a day or two in deciding her choices for me to work with but to my surprise, she rattled them off within 10 minutes. It’s obvious she really knows her stuff. The following are the choices Miss Snow selected for me as well as the dishes created. While it’s possible (actually likely) that these dishes will still get modified somewhat before service, I’m very happy in the initial conceptualization.
Aphrodisiac: Basil
For centuries, Basil is said to have stimulated the sex drive and boosted fertility as well as producing a general sense of well being for the body and mind. The scent of basil was said to drive men wild -- so much so that women would dust their breasts with dried and powdered basil. Basil is one of the many reported aphrodisiacs that may have the property of promoting circulation and used in love spells. In Italy, where sweet basil is called "kiss me Nicholas," "bacia-nicola," it is thought to attract husbands to wives, and a pot of basil on a windowsill is meant to signal a lover. In Moldavian folklore, if a man accepts a sprig of basil from a woman, he will fall in love with her. In modern aromatherapy, basil is used to cheer the heart and mind. The sweet, energizing aroma seems to aid in curing depression.
Dish: Curried Basil Roasted Chicken Breast over Coconut Rice and Portobello Mushroom
Mixing fresh basil with traditional indian curry spices and olive oil, the mixture is then spread over a free range chicken breast. Roasting the basil releases it's oils into the breast along with the curry. It is served over a grilled portobello mushroom stuffed with a fragent basmati rice cooked in coconut milk. A fresh basil chiffonade is added at the end.
Aphrodisiac: Pine nuts
As far back as medieval times, pine nuts have been used to stimulate the libido because they are rich in zinc, a key mineral for maintaining male potency. "Pine nuts first got their aphrodisiac reputation from the effort required to get them. They're nestled in the cones of the pine tree, and the best were said to come from the Himalayas," says Martha Hopkins, author of InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook. Like most nuts, they also offer protective cardiovascular benefits and are especially good sources of thiamin, iron, magnesium, and manganese.
Dish: Pine Nut crusted Chillean Sea Bass w/ glazed Carrots and Clarified Chive Butter
Textures, Textures, Textures. Crunchy pine nuts, flaky fish flesh, al dente carrots and creamy butter. The sea basshere is topped with the light crunch of pine nuts. Roasting releases the oils in the pine nuts and gives them an amber color creating a great contrast to the sweet carrots underneath. The carrots are cooked in a shallow mixture of water, sugar and nutmeg coating them in a sweet, yet savory syrup. The chive butter is lightened slightly by clarifying and garnishes the plate.
Aphrodisiac: Arugula
Arugula or rocket was a popular aphrodisiac among the ancient Romans and ancient Egyptians. It was quite often associated with Priapus, a minor Roman god of fertility. Arugula is said to help clear the mind and although neither of these curative properties specifically raises sexual energy, they are both attributes that promote the right mood for romance. It should be added that this peppery spring and autumn lettuce is rich in vitamins A and C and many minerals that are essential for putting the body in its sexual prime.
Dish: Arugula and Macadamia Nut Pesto Veal Chop w/ roasted Yukon Potatoes
Given the ingredients of basil and pine nuts to use here, the obvious thing to do would be to make a pesto but that would be to easy. Who says pestos have to be made with basil and pine nuts? Using arugula here gives the sauce a very peppery bite which is cut through with the oily and sweet macadamias. Parmasean cheese adds a saltiness that truly brings out the flavor of the veal. The Yukon potatoes are crispy and fluffy giving a great contrast.
Aphrodisiac: Oyster
Although the aphrodisiastic qualities of oysters are considered to be mostly phallic, the Romans placed the oyster high on their list of prized aphrodisiacs. Casanova, the legend goes, would eat 50 raw oysters for breakfast. Yet interestingly, oysters (like pine nuts) are high in zinc, which is necessary for sperm production. Raw oysters are also high in D-aspartic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate, which increased testosterone levels in a study on male rats, which could in theory increase libido.
Dish: Raw Kumumoto Oyster w/ Cucumber Champagne Migonette
While migonettes are classic with oysters, this one is lighter. Rice wine vinegar is used. Mixed with champagne and added to a small dice of shallots and cucumber, it gives an unexpected and juicy crunch to the oyster.
Aphrodisiac: Dark Chocolate
Chocolate has phenylethylamine and serotonin; two chemicals that light up pleasure areas in the brain. Chocolate is similar to sex in that it makes you feel good. This doesn't imply, and no studies have shown that chocolate increases sexual desire.
Dish: Dark Chocolate Cake topped with Chocolate Ganache; Bittersweet Chocolate Wrapper
Moist CHOCOLATE cake is topped with a whipped airy CHOCOLATE ganache and wrapped with a bittersweet CHOCOLATE sheet. See a pattern here???
Happy Eating!
-Frank
If you have a twitter account you can follow Aurora here: www.twitter.com/MissAuroraSnow , me here: www.twitter.com/FrankBarajas and the blog here: www.twitter.com/FoodiesBlock
