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What a fun topic. Unfortunately for several of the replies, one cannot know if the author is male or female - and I feel it makes a difference.
At this point I qualify as an old marrried man but previously it seemed to me that many young ladies were so pleased/flattered that I cooked for them that what I served was much less important than the fact that I cooked for them at all.
At present my wife is very happy that I cook/plan many of our meals.
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*heh heh* Don't know as I qualify anymore, being an old married broad, but I do still LOVE to seduce my husband with foodgasmic meals on a regular basis. When I want to still feel all light, springy, and energetic after dinner, my go-to is always Thai or Szechuan. I love making up a fresh pot of Tom Kha Gai. Or, when I'm feeling like a bit more heat, I'll give some shrimp a quick, super-hot spin with a mix of tomato paste, ginger, scallions, soy, Thai peppers, black vinegar, and shao hsing and add some fresh veggies. A little bit of grilled marinated baby bok choy on the side and a groovy Asian-flavored spinch salad beforehand and it's a sexy, sexy meal that allows for lots and lots of exercise later.
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For me the go to recipe has been Simmered white fish in feta-wine-herb sauce, with a side of rice and whatever comes to mind. Its super easy and packs a punch. I got the recipe from the Calamari Cookbook eons ago. Obviously I adapted it.
I understand that attraction makes such things as what's on the place quite secondary, but I am not sure that I would want anything serious with someone who has no affinity for food matters. I spent 9 years with someone who had no shared interest around the matter and it was a somewhat lonely partnership (around that issue anyway).
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This thread is most excellent and full of good advice. Other than the tarp :-P. I think my best seduction meal was steaks, some glorious-smelling risotto with sherry and thyme, (http://thepassionatecook.typepad.com/...), and chocolate truffles. That was well into a long relationship, though. I have to agree with the others who say that dancing around and trying too hard for a guy you've just met is a mistake. I'd plan two dishes and have him man one of them (he can grill the meat, or something). Basic psychology says that when you make a herculean effort (overdone makeup/hair/clothes/planning elaborate events/ overzealous stories/ jokes/ complicated food) you imply that you're trying to catch him. When you do very little, you imply that you're not a sure thing, which men seem to find irresistible. Courtship is a beautiful thing-- put him to work and enjoy watching him run around in circles trying to impress you! ;-)
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Really depends on the person. A recent ex, being a long-time bachelor, made fried eggs with steamed rice and SPAM for our first dinner. Complete with Natural Light beer. I ate pork buns from the microwave, SPAM fried rice, and ramen with spinach and an egg for dinner for a month due to being busy with work but wanting to spend time with him. I eventually took over the kitchen when I had more wherewithal :)
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Bada Bing
Aug 16, 2010 12:58 PM
Pardon if I add a twist to the thread (and apologies to gay cooks, who should testify as need be): I wonder if women cooks seeking to seduce men have different ideas about what's seductive compared to men cooking for women?
As a man, I find that being able to cook at all pretty much clears the bar. But if I wanted to send the average date prospect over the edge (note past tense, as I am married), I would avoid anything obviously meaty/fatty but still pack in flavor: arugula and apple salad with great balsamic and parmagiano, fresh tomato sauce pasta this time of year is great, and a perfectly ripe peach (sorry, I don't have much dessert imagination).
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re: Bada Bing
nofunlatte
Aug 16, 2010 01:22 PM
Good question, but one that is probably unanswerable, given the wide range of people. What person A finds sexy and seducable, person B finds a turn-off. Probably holds true regardless of sexual orientation, too. Frankly, the seduction is irrespective of the meal offered (alcohol being an exception, given its inhibition-lowering qualities). If someone is really into you, Doritos and a 6-pack will suffice. If not, the most "romantic" meal won't work. That said, one man I dated did bring a home-baked (and delicious) loaf of yeast bread to my office once. But I'd already been quite smitten.
It could also be the ACT of cooking, not the meal itself. If you are passionate about it, let your potential score see you enjoying this! Watching someone truly engaged in an activity is pretty sexy, if only because you figure (s)he might be pretty engaged in some other sort of activity later on!
I do have a fondness for men who do live-fire grilling, though.
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re: nofunlatte
Bada Bing
Aug 16, 2010 03:03 PM
I agree, and your comment reminds me of a recent thread where I thought someone was way too focused on what's served rather than what's happening at a seduction dinner. I assume that you feel your response applies to the entire thread topic, though, and not just the gender/sexuality differences?
Still, I'll stand by my query in some ways. Some women I know are, regrettably, thrown into psychological distress by big departures from their carb or fat regimens, and if your concern as host is to make them happy, the nice-guy approach would be to accommodate them. Then the bad boy will take them to Ruth's Chris!
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re: Bada Bing
nofunlatte
Aug 16, 2010 03:29 PM
I agree and I'm probably not the best example of the average female. Indeed, I've been called "many standard deviations from the mean" as a compliment. But you do make an excellent point about the tyranny of fat/carb/gawd know what else obsession--why else would so many women's magazines scream out the diet-de-jour on their covers?
But for the OP--well, my seduction dinner is simply to cook something--anything--passionately and lustily and the rest will take care of itself. Just be sure NOT to leave an unattended pot on the stove that reduces your sauce to carbon, triggering the smoke alarm and forcing you open the windows and patio doors when the temperature is about 9°F outside. Not that I'd know about any seduction dinner where this happened.
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chef chicklet
Aug 13, 2010 01:56 PM
Well my favorite meal isn't for a new date, but when I want to make a special dinner for my dh, I like prawns in creamy mustard sauce with angel hair pasta. The sauce is killer, and so easy, the pasta lighter than most and the prawns succulent. A light toss of fresh parsley and black pepper, perfection. Another is salmon, made basically with the same sauce and either very creamy mashed potaotes, or angel hair. Fish is best for lighter meals. I love steamed carrots with dill they pair nicely and don't fight for attention with the main. Creme brulee always.
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junglekitte
Aug 13, 2010 10:52 AM
Nothing too heavy... something light and full of flavor! Nothing with lots of onions/garlic/cabbage/etc.
And some bite sized desserts to finish. You can feed them to each other. ;)
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Here's a semi-recent thread on this very topic:
