Winter is the perfect season to explore and enjoy the many
purported Aphrodisiac properties of food. Since the crown of creation, seduction, intimacy and passion have been cultivated and enhanced by a broad spectrum of gastronomic delights consumed before a roaring fire.
People are just as
adventurous in love as they are with aphrodisiacs. From Istanbul to Sydney, Romeo creates recipes to woo and wow Juliet while heightening his own sexual satisfaction.
Although the reasons for physical attraction and sexual desire are almost as much a mystery today as they were in ancient times, we do know that the genesis of sexual desire begins in the brain - in the hypothalamus, which also governs our appetites for food and drink.
The vast oceans cover much of the planet and are the home so many forms of life. Therefore it's no surprise that most sea creatures have the elements to form an aphrodisiac. All shellfish, the strongest aphrodisiacs, contain phosphorus, calcium, iodine, iron, vitamin B and glycophosphates, basic essentials for an aphrodisiac. All oily fish, such as salmon, tuna, shark, eel, herring, mackerel and sardines, and many forms of white fish, including sole and turbot, contain phosphorus, calcium and vitamins A, B and D, important elements in a variety of aphrodisiac treats.
Oysters have always been highly prized for their delicate flavour and there is much debate as to whether the native (also known as flat) oyster or the gigas (also known as Pacific or rock oyster) is superior. Traditionalists choose the native, but increasingly more people are recognizing and enjoying the gigas, not least for its juicy, plump texture.
Some oysters repeatedly change their sex from male to female and back, giving rise to claims that the oyster lets one experience the the masculine and feminine sides of love. 
From a Guilty Pleasures perspective, there's nothing more daringly decadent than enjoying a catered Raw Bar au Natural.
Sensual foods do not have to be the most expensive items at the store. My father loved to eat Radishes. It was one of his favorite Guilty Pleasures. Years later I learned that a Radish is considered a divine aphrodisiac by Egyptian Pharaohs, most likely because its spicy taste stimulated the palate. Apparently, Dad had it all going on.
We have explored the mystical power of Truffles many times before at the Guilty Pleasures Club. They are considered a powerful aphrodisiac due to its rarity and musky aroma. They have long been considered to arouse the palate and the body. To sustain his masulinity, an ancient lover in lore was said to have gorged himself to death on Alba truffles during the wedding feast.
In the last 50 years, aphrodisiac food has been changing radically, along with our attitudes towards love and how to perform. Gone is the belief that men need rare steaks both to arouse desire and to keep up their stamina. Instead, Europeans turn to more subtle meats, although they are not necessarily to be found in the supermarkets.
Bunderfleisch, for example, made in the Swiss mountains with a secret formula using mountain herbs and white wine, creates surprisingly sudden strength, and pastrami can do the same. Parma ham, delicious with green figs, is also good for providing instant energy. Lachsschinken (called Filet de Saxe in France) with Roquefort cheese was often eaten by Casanova before his famous conquests.
Vegetarians should also take heart. Peas, broad beans, radishes, artichokes, lettuce, leeks and onions are all confirmed as having aphrodisiacal properties. The Greeks noticed that onions “dim the eyes and excite amatory propensities” but also that even the onion “will do you no good if you have no strength yourself.”
Asparagus, an aristocrat among vegetables, still grows in its wild form along the sandy coasts of France, in Greece and profusely on the Russian Steppes. Witte goud (white gold), the seasonal asparagus of Brabant and Limburg - sturdy white shoots towering above their foreign cousins - has become the favourite Dutch treat.
Three courses of asparagus were always served to 19th century bridegrooms due to its reputed aphrodisiacal powers. “Asparagus seems to work magic on the Dutch taste buds,” says Joop van Zantvort, owner of Auberge de Koets in ‘s-Hertogenbosh, where a new asparagus menu is offered daily in season (May and June).
Other foods with sensual overtones...
• Caviar: is high in zinc, which stimulates the formation of testosterone, maintaining male functionality.
• Champagne: viewed as the "drink of love," moderate quantities lower inhibitions and cause a warm glow in the body.
• Chocolate: contains both a sedative which relaxes and lowers inhibitions and a stimulant to increase activity and the desire for physical contact. It was actually banned from some monasteries centuries ago.
Fruit delights the senses in many ways. Figs, like oysters, need nothing but their own inimitable qualities. Figs were celebrated by ancient Greeks in a frenzied copulational ritual. The pale golden quince was said to be the original apple which lured Eve, while the serpent that tempted Eve hid in a bunch of bananas. Eve may have been the first person on the planet to enjoy life's Guilty Pleasures.
The fabled Banana has long been considered an aphrodisiac. Not only due to its' elongated shape, but also its' creamy, lush texture. Some research studies show its' enzyme bromelain enhances male performance. Banana blossom also appears in Filipino recipes as an aphrodisiac.
Berries and melons are agents of erotic seduction. From long stemmed Chocolate-dipped Strawberries to Crenshaw melons, moist and sweet is the perfect snack between the sheets.
Good sex needs plenty of energy. Raw food processes far more minerals and vitamins than cooked food. For a better sex life, eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and drink ginseng tea. Al fresco food - a watermelon on a hot day or piping hot soup washed down with malt whisky in the depths of winter - make an equally memorable and appropriate meal.
Great sex needs plenty of pampering. Just ask any Skinny Chick, she will set the record straight. Spoiling yourself and lover should take many creative forms. From the candles to a Tantric massage to creme brulee infused strawberries, there's a party going on and I am Guilty as Charged.
Many thanks to About.com and the London Food Festival for their contributions to this posting.
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