What Do Women Want to Eat on Valentine's Day?
Every Valentine's Day, one question looms over the heads of modern-day Lotharios wielding a wooden spoon: What do women want to eat for a romantic meal?
We asked our female Facebook buddies what they hope to see on their dinner plates come February 14th. The results showed that our readers want to get down and dirty with decadent meals. Luxurious seafood; a hearty, meaty main; and dessert (of course) were the most common requests. Did I forget to mention the Champagne?
So if you're cooking for your lady, leave the Romaine lettuce at the market and go home with some fresh oysters, red meat, and bubbly. Here are a few ideas from our readers:
-Dawn Renee Skaien of Santa Barbara, California tells us that she would want "a black and blue filet mignon with a balsamic reduction, Australian lobster tail, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and sautéed spinach."
-Another reader, Cathy Negus, couldn't be happier with a feast of "shrimp bisque to start" followed by a "medium-rare duck breast with port-cherry sauce, roasted garlic Parmesan mashed potatoes, and baby carrots with a Grand Marnier glaze."
-Elise Herrman would love to have some "hickory smoked baby back ribs."
It's not surprising that shellfish tops the list as a popular V-Day dinner picks. Oysters have been consumed for their aphrodisiac effects since the Roman Empire. But roast beef? Bison? Medium-rare steak with a side of béarnaise? Our readers listed those meats and more.
Harold McGee tells us in On Food and Cooking that we are biologically drawn to the flavor triggers in red meat. Protein-rich foods provide hormones necessary for sexual vitality according to Michael and Ellen Albertson, authors of Temptations: Igniting the Pleasure and Power of Aphrodisiacs.
Whatever your meal ends up being, we hope it's delicious. It doesn't hurt to give your partner subtle hints about what your ideal menu looks like. After all, communication (and a good sauté pan) is key.
Find out what men want to eat on Valentine's Day later this week!
--Diane Chang
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