Add some aphrodisiacs to your meal

Start the celebration early over a sexy, spicy dinner

Video: Mood-setting meal, love-inducing libations

Closed captioning of: Mood-setting meal, love-inducing libations

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we've got to go. oh, no. well, you know you'll be back.

>> valentine's day -- we're a team but for valentine's day for all of your viewers, do something nice and honest for your partner. if you don't do anything, it backfires. it's not worth doing nothing.

>> do it today. do it today.

>> do it now.

>> happy valentine's day.

>> you too.

>>> one hot meal guaranteed to heat up more than just the kitchen right after this. what is he doing in the back?

>>> we are back with "today's" kitchen and we are gettin' saucy with gavin cason who is about to cook up something sexy full of hidden aphrodisiacs, i hear.

>> and since there's two of us, cameron bode is a mixologist.

>> you're going to cook up an aphrodisiac meal for us?

>> yes, it has four aphrodisiacs in it. cameron is doing drinks. we'll start with this. a fennel puree. roast off a little fennel in the pan.

>> kim, do you like cooking?

>> i do.

>> what's your dish? what do you like to make?

>> my dish is very unhealthy like fried chicken , macaroni and cheese .

>> that's healthy.

>> very healthy.

>> you have a little fennel in there.

>> we'll caramelize that. basically once it's caramelized we'll add some chicken stock and cream, also very healthy.

>> heavy cream or --

>> heavy cream .

>> the real deal. walk down here. i'll show you how to plate the dish. lobster.

>> you just steamed it?

>> blanched it in a little bit of water. we'll take the fennel puree. i didn't know this before this segment but fennel is a libido enhancer.

>> is that true?

>> one aphrodisiac.

>> give me some.

>> and we'll go like that and dress the lobster on.

>> is that the only aprodisiac?

>> no, ahmads.

>> isn't lobster, too?

>> lobster, almonds, oil and basil produce passion and fertility as well. there's a lot going on into this dish. if you want to bring a date to the cafe, and get a guaranteed aphrodisiac, come see me. bib lettuce, fennel and vanilla oil, another aphrodisiac, vanilla, just the scent alone.

>> you can eat that?

>> smells so good.

>> okay.

>> we'll go with cameron . go ahead. we're going to cook some -- or do some drinks with cameron now.

>> okay, cool.

>> he has a whole set of aphrodisiacs.

>> using aftphrodisiacs to stimulate your partner on valentine's day. first we'll use hangar one.

>> we should take one of these?

>> big one.

>> what is up with that name?

>> that's mine. to that we add saffron because it's an aphrodisiac that boosts your orgasms.

>> is that true?

>> can i have a double shot?

>> did you just say that out loud?

>> i'm just kidding.

>> top it with ginger beer in the bottles there. grab the spoon. give it a little stir for us.

>> okay.

>> is ginger beer just gingerale or is it beer?

>> very similar to gingerale but it has a lot stronger ginger note. it's nonalcoholic and ginger is a bit of an aphrodisiac, stimulates the circulatory system to get your man's blood flowing.

>> wait, you have to look someone in the eye when you say cheers. bad sex for seven years.

>> is that true?

>> yes.

>> gavin, are you ready for ours?

>> that's good.

>> that is good.

>> we're going to start out doing two ounces of beef eater engine, one ounce of quantro.

>> wait, this is the boy drink? okay.

>> next, we're going to add one ounce of --

>> stop.

>> carrot juice .

>> okay.

>> carrot juice ?

>> it's also an aphrodisiac that aids in seduction.

>> is that true?

>> i've heard it's true, but i don't think there's enough carrot juice in manhattan to seduce you ladies, lemon juice for acidity. basil.

>> you have to spank your basil.

>> it releases the aphrodisiac.

>> you have to let the aroma come out. so you spank the basil and put it in.

>> what are these guys talking about? who are these guys and how did they get on the show? we'll have to run. shake it up.

>> shake.

>> whoo.

>> did you get it in the eye?

>> yeah.

>> you're losing points over there. cheers, guys. we've got to run.

>> all right.

>> and voila.

>> cheers, boys. look in the eye. look in the eye. you didn't do it.

>> i did it. i did it.

>> bring me your eyes.

>> scaring me a little bit.

>> we'll be back with more of "today" on nbc.

>>> we have had such a fun show with miss kim

Show transcript

TODAY recipes

updated 2/10/2010 1:11:40 PM ET

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Want to add some heat to your Valentine’s Day celebration? Why not make your sweetheart a home-cooked meal that’s full of aphrodisiacs? Chef Gavin Kaysen of Cafe Boulud and mixologist Cameron Bogue of Bar Pleiades are here to help with their simple but sexy recipes for lobster salad and his-and-hers aphrodisiac drinks.

Recipe: Lobster salad (on this page) Recipe: For her: The "Garden Daisy" (on this page)

Recipe: For him: The "Beijing Mule" (on this page)

Recipe: Lobster salad

Chef Gavin Kaysen

The four aphrodisiacs featured in the salad:

Almond: A symbol of fertility throughout the ages. The aroma is thought to induce passion in a female.

Basil (sweet basil): Is said to stimulate the sex drive and boost fertility. It is also said to produce a general sense of well-being for body and mind.

Fennel: In the 1930s fennel was found to be a source of natural plant estrogens. Use of fennel as an aphrodisiac dates back to the Egyptian times when it was used as “libido enhancement.”

Vanilla: The scent and flavor of vanilla is believed to increase lust. According to the Australian Orchid Society, “Old Totonac lore has it that Xanat, the young daughter of the Mexican fertility goddess, loved a Totonac youth. Unable to marry him due to her divine nature, she transformed herself into a plant that would provide pleasure and happiness.”

Ingredients

Lobster salad
2 lobsters (approximately 1 pound each)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 each baby fennel, trimmed
1 large head fennel, diced
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Sherry vinegar, to taste
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 head Bibb lettuce
2 tablespoons vanilla oil
Orange-basil gremolata
2 navel oranges, freshly grated zest and juice
8 leaves basil, finely chopped
4 tablespoons finely chopped toasted almonds
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Salt, to taste

Preparation

Lobster salad
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add lobsters, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Pull the lobsters from the pot and chill under cold running water. When cool enough to handle, remove the claw and tail meat from the shells. Wrap in a damp towel and refrigerate.

Slice the baby fennel very thin length-wise, reserve in cold water. In a small sauce pot combine the large fennel, heavy cream, chicken stock, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally until fennel is soft. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Season to taste with sherry vinegar, salt and pepper; chill.

Clean the Bibb lettuce leaves under cold running water.

Orange-basil gremolata
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl; cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serving

To serve: Smear a spoonful of fennel puree on the base of the plate, and then place the lobster on, garnish with the sliced baby fennel, bibb lettuce, and gremolata. Drizzle vanilla oil around the plate and serve.

Serving Size

Makes 2 servings

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Recipe: For her: The "Garden Daisy"

Cameron Bogue

Aphrodisiacs: Carrots are believed to be a sexual stimulant. The phallus-shaped carrot has been associated with stimulation since ancient times and was used by early Middle Eastern royalty to aid seduction. It’s also high in vitamins and beta-carotene. Basil is said to stimulate the sex drive and boost fertility. It’s also said to produce a general sense of well-being for body and mind.

Ingredients

2 ounces Beefeater Gin
1 ounce Cointreau
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce carrot juice
2 basil leaves

Preparation

Serve in a martini glass. Garnish with caster sugar rim and basil leaf. Shake up and strain. A daisy is a style of drink that consists of a spirit of any kind mixed with curacao and citrus. This variation adds two bold spring flavors, carrot juice and basil, both of which are aphrodisiacs.

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Recipe: For him: The "Beijing Mule"

Cameron Bogue

Aphrodisiacs: Ginger root, whether raw, cooked or crystallized, is a stimulant to the circulatory system and acts as an aphrodisiac. Saffron can also be used as a stimulant or inebriant, depending on the dosage. Sun-dried filaments ingested stimulates sexual desire. The essential oils evoke long, distinctive orgasms.