Valentine's Day: How To Seal The Deal With Food And Drink

Easily one of the most exciting London restaurant openings of 2011, Hedone’s Chef Owner Mikael Jonsson has received international acclaim for his obsessional approach to sourcing. Here he shares his expertise to create a bit of magic if you’re planning to cook at home. Hedone is, after all, Greek for pleasure. 

• A glass of NV pink champagne
• Appetiser
• Flame grilled Langoustines
• Slow cooked duck egg, green peas and Morteau’s sausage
• Slip Sole, ginger and lime
• Hedone’s beef Rossini to share
• Pre dessert
• Chocolate and Vanilla Millefeuille

“If you can’t rely on making your partner weak at the knees anymore, a glass of champagne will help proceedings. The bubbles mean that the alcohol hits the blood faster, creating that lovely dizzying effect straight away. The aromas are also similar to female pheromones, stimulating sexual attraction.

Then, what to cook? There are lots of foods which famously have aphrodisiac qualities, but it’s so predictable to go down the oyster route. Thinking outside the box shows more thought, instantly earning you brownie points. At Hedone our Valentine’s menu is packed with aphrodisiacs but not the obvious ones. For example, we’ll be serving duck eggs and Morteau’s sausage as a course because a) it’s outstanding, and b) seeds (like eggs) are said to have sexual powers. The sausage, well it speaks for itself surely (genuinely, the shape of foods is a great stimulant)? A fantastic flavour for people to cook at home with is also ginger- it’s said to encourage arousal in women.

Think about a sense of theatre, even when dining at home. For Valentine’s we’re serving a beef Rossini to share, because it’s a fantastic, impressive looking dish, the origin of which comes from Italian opera, which surely is the most romantic of all art forms. Sharing is also good too, it’s a joint venture and requires and invites a level of intimacy perfect for lovers.

For dessert, chocolate really is the only way but try and modernise it. We serve our dessert with incredible vanilla, which few people know, but its scent and flavour increase lust (it stimulates adrenaline for starters). It’s also the world’s second most expensive spice (after saffron), and let’s face it, in the world of romance money talks”

Visit hedonerestaurant.com for more information.

And what about drinks? Champagne is great to start but it's always fun to get a bit more experimental with cocktails as the evening moves on.

For a little excitement treat your cocktail loving paramour to a cocktail session with a difference. 69 Colebrook Row, the infamous bar owned by Tony Conigliaro, 'the Heston of the drinks world', are offering couples the perfect combination on February 14th with a package which includes 3 cocktails each, served with some delectable and unique limited edition Paul.A.Young chocolates based on 69 Colebrooke Row's own Vinus Lupus and Master at Arms cocktails. The package is priced at £60 and is available from 5pm to midnight.

Guests can reserve a table by calling 69 Colebrooke Row on 07540 528 593 or emailing drinks@69colebrookerow.com

Alternatively if you're looking for somewhere quiet to enjoy Valentin's day with your other half the Purple Bar at Sanderson is a great choice. This year they will be serving up aphrodisiac cocktail's to entice your senses. Offering an intimate setting, and dark corners you can share mouthwatering cocktails off the newly created "Lust List" including a home-made white chocolate and vanilla martini, muddled with fresh strawberries and shaken with Creme de cacao. For a 'stiff' option, guests can opt for a shot cocktail made with El Dorado 5y/o, shaken with flowering Jasmine Tea, home-made honey water, a dash of angostura and orange bitters and fresh lime juice, served over ice. The Lust List ensures you are channeling your inner Aphrodite this Valentine's Day.

Visit the Sanderson website for more details