|
Wander
down any high street and you can hardly escape the build up towards
Valentine's Day with advertisements for gifts and cards, bartenders
mixing aphrodisiacal cocktails, and restaurants with enticing menus
guaranteed to win the heart of your loved one! Notwithstanding a
report from the Food and Drug Administration that the reputed effects
of the so-called aphrodisiacs are based in folklore and not in fact,
volumes have been written about foods that have powerful effects on
one's libido and this notion has also grabbed people's imagination
since time immemorial.
An aphrodisiac is a food, drink,
drug or scent, that, it is claimed arouses amorous feelings. Named
after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, the list of
these stimulants is seemingly endless. References to many of the
foods are to be found in Culpepper, Ovid and Pliny and in the Kama
Sutra, the Perfumed Garden and the Arabian Nights, to name a few.
Recently, the Vegetarian Society described Asparagus, as a classic in
the aphrodisiac world and suggests "eating asparagus for three
days for the most powerful affect," and their recommendations
include the following: almonds, avocado, bananas, chocolate, chillie,
celery, carrots, figs, mustard, raspberry, strawberry and pine nuts
(Galen advised men to to eat one hundred pine nuts, before going to bed).
In Roman times Rocket (Arugula)
was grown for both it's leaves and the seed. The seed was used for
flavoring oils. On another interesting note, Rocket or Arugula seed
has been used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac concoctions dating back
to the first century, AD. (Cambridge World History of Food). Other
sources quote oysters, Truffles, garlic, onion, tomato - love apple,
chickpeas, ginger - fresh or crystallized; nutmeg, liquorice, pepper,
coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, pineapple, pistachio, red
meats, all kinds of eggs and honey. The Romans, no doubt impressed by
trade with India, believed that aniseed had special powers and
sucking on them increased your desire. It almost certainly sweetened
their breath!
Poppadom Express Southampton
asked Venika Kingsland, author of books on India and cookery expert,
to create a special menu for Valentine's day. Aazaz Khan, Managing
Director of Poppadom Express, said "we were inspired by the
fact that in India sweetmeats containing many of these foods and
spices are fed to a newly wed couples on their wedding night".
He added "our team of the
finest chefs from India will be preparing the meal with ingredients
alleged to produce amorous results. We are including KamaSutra
cocktails, various east/west fusion dishes guaranteed to set your
pulses racing. To end a perfect meal is a choice of desserts - one of
which is the (dis)reputable 'Palang Tor Shahi Tukra' ('bed breaker'
dessert for Kings)."
"This seven course meal
plus gifts, is fantastic value at £25 per head. We are also
offering our customers a choice of where they would like to sit to
enjoy their meal. We have seductive spaces for romantic couples,
tables for parties of friends and even a large table of ten, for the
adventurous or the newly single." Said Aazaz with a laugh "For
someone it might even be a case of love at first bite."
|
