Heating things up
Food can be an integral part of the dating process. At some point, we are either mingling or getting to know one another over food. Cooking great food is also a great way to add spice (pun intended) to the regular, run of the mill date activities.
I recruited my fabulous new gal pal Chef Bren Herrera to help us navigate the joys of cooking and dating. She is a fellow blogger who recently wrote about one of her clients thinking outside the box for a non-traditional date idea. He hired her to prepare a special meal for a special lady. I have to say, there is something about a personal chef that can add instant wow factor to a date!
Photo: Shannon McCollumn
I asked Chef Bren how cooking could heat things up for a non-traditional date:
1. Cooking on a date will show both guy and gal that you’re atypical and think outside the box! Who like movies and dinner dates! So, so passé! It’s 2010.
2. You can totally spoon-feed each other while “tasting” what you’re making. That makes for an intended sexy moment, without being forceful or offensive.
3. If you’re looking for a life-long mate that can cook, this is the test!! How willing are they to break out the cutting board and knives and mince garlic(which will make your breath stinky, but that’s another test of his/her real interest)? If they’re down for it, chances are they are conscious of budgeting, their health and quality time at home.
4. If the food is good, you’ve sealed the deal and a 2nd date is in order.
Well, she makes a pretty convincing argument. What do you think? Would cooking a meal prepared by the two of you not impress the socks (yes…just the socks) off of you?
Have you tried it before? What would you do if you showed up to your date’s place to find the meal waiting to be cooked. Would you be impressed and turned on a little (Am I the only one thinking of the film 9 1/2 weeks right now? Just me? Ok.)
Would you *ahem* go with the flow and roll up your sleeves? As far as non-traditional dates go, this would definitely be outside the norm. It would definitely be a memorable night. I won’t forget the night younger guy brought all these ingredients to my place. I left to run an errand and when I walked back in, I was shocked to find dinner was done. Then he fed me. No seriously, he literally cooked and fed me. You’ve got to admire those younger dudes.
Chef Bren said that a male client’s favorite dish is the spicy seared scallops in honey with a mango and cilantro relish. That sounds amazing! Do you have an amazing recipe that would be ideal for date nights? What dish do you use to impress the ladies/men?
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891 comments Add your comment
Dig That
March 26th, 2010
10:53 am
I remember when Colt 45 used to go well with every meal. Damn I just went back to my college days.
Carlito
March 26th, 2010
10:54 am
Kimme, flour about a quarter cup, a bout a quarter tsp of salt, some fresh ground black pepper and some oregano, chicken breast boned and skinless..umm four table spoons olive oil, some Marsala wine..I am generous with it but no more than a glass,about two handfuls of mushrooms, a half cup of chicken stock and a half cup of sherry and a half of lemon. Mix together the flour, salt, oregano, and pepper. Beat the chicken breasts with the flat side of your meat mallet softly. Roll the chicken in your mixture. On medium-high, heat the olive oil and brown the chicken…both sides. Then put chicken onto a plate. Pour wine into the oil and warm. Mix in the mushrooms, chicken stock and juice of the lemon..flip chicken over to get it well coated with the sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes
Lady J
March 26th, 2010
10:54 am
awwww dag superstar we LOVE keylime cake we are new to it but the lime peel in the cake and frosting rocks!!!!!!!
dreamsM I love cooking with wine! it is a great seasoning!
Melo
March 26th, 2010
10:54 am
Chef Que R D already told me what his intention was.
@SlimOne..thats hot!
I hope he dont slip up,bringing the xxx size of the trojans and deflating his and ur hopes in the process!
U gotta use ur hotness and the fact that they are swarming like bees to honey and choose wisely…….good luck!
PrincessNik......supastar
March 26th, 2010
10:55 am
lady j~ green cake i’ll pass LOL i don’t do key lime pie either
Carlito
March 26th, 2010
10:56 am
I am, I can serve you a liquid lunch as well.I mean if that is what you want
kimmie
March 26th, 2010
10:56 am
Dreams – Trader Joes has this marsela sauce in a jar that you pour over the chicken & simmer after you have grilled or sauteed it. It’s pretty decent in a pinch, something you can throw together if you don’t have much time. But I want to do one from scratch.
Raqi
March 26th, 2010
10:57 am
yep along with stilleto’s
LOL Rell I actually thought about that when WiseDiva and I am were talking about the shoes of the lady on front.
Mo (aka Moeisha - TGIF)
March 26th, 2010
10:57 am
Rell – thanks man, gotta look out for my baby! And I really like that Marbut is so close and how they operate over there with curriculm (and I know the principal is no joke). I need to holla at you too
Infamous – I like Lil Mo’s teacher but I had planned to pull him out after this year anyway. Even if he had to go to school with his Aunt, lol
Lady J – now you know I wasnt about to hesitate and not use my connects chica!!
Lady J
March 26th, 2010
10:58 am
superstar one guy wanted last Christmas and we are just friends and he loved it….lol wrapped it up in foil and drooped it off! he is the one really who turned me on to it! of course after he smoke his stuff he wanted something sweet! lmao @ the munchies and randomness!
Carlito
March 26th, 2010
10:58 am
Stilleto’s are nice in the kitchen, even better on your chest
Leggs
March 26th, 2010
10:58 am
@Rell – thank you for posting that link!
Raqi
March 26th, 2010
10:59 am
Leggs, I am being good. I promise.
Dig That
March 26th, 2010
10:59 am
Never been a fan of the key lime either. But I have noticed in the past couple of years that I have to re taste all the things I didn’t normally like because tastebuds change and you never know. Hell I didn’t use to like apple pie, but now I’m like dayum. And the first time I had some with ice cream. Mighty fine. Mighty fine.
Professor
March 26th, 2010
10:59 am
Carlito~I am going to copy your recipe for the chicken marsala as well. It sounds delicious and easy to make.
PrincessNik......supastar
March 26th, 2010
10:59 am
@ Carlito
Stilleto’s are nice in the kitchen, even better on your chest
what about behind your head
Slim Coo-Coo
March 26th, 2010
11:00 am
“I remember when Colt 45 used to go well with every meal”
DIG Try St. (crooked letter0 IDES lol Statesboro was pretty much a beer & wine county…had to go to county line for the hard stuff which for whatever reason we drank Gold Slogger (sp)
Professor
March 26th, 2010
11:00 am
Leggs~ Carlito is the one being naughty today…I am just waiting for Slim and Melo to join him and a tad bit from Swiss. At that point, we will have the official Freaky Friday kickoff.
kimmie
March 26th, 2010
11:01 am
Carlito – OMG that sounds SO good! I can’t wait! I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Dig That
March 26th, 2010
11:01 am
“after he smoke his stuff he wanted something sweet!”
Ha!
Lady J
March 26th, 2010
11:01 am
dig that apple pie and I mean homemade with my granny’s apples from her apple tree green apples at that is classic! down to making her own crust! geesh! lol
Dan
March 26th, 2010
11:02 am
@WD
This was right up my alley.
I’m not one to say “I told you so” but….
Call it creative, intimate, a chance to display a skillset for the purpose of being chosen; but cooking is sexy.
Dig That
March 26th, 2010
11:02 am
@Slim
You right. Statesboro was so dry that some Ides was a like Moet.
Carlito
March 26th, 2010
11:04 am
Professor, it’s very easy to make and it tastes well
be careful with the wine though, do it to taste.
PrincessNik, behind your head is nice. But it can not beat if she is standing on your chest with both stilleto’s or one and squats down to your face while he nail dig into your thighs.
( I thought it was friday?)
Dig That
March 26th, 2010
11:04 am
@Lady
The funny thing is when I have cooked, then I am never hungry after the meal is prepared. Is that typical or just one of my quirks?
Slim Coo-Coo
March 26th, 2010
11:05 am
melo My Phatty Catty is allergic to trojan men. However, Que Chef seems to be a good brutha so far
Lady J
March 26th, 2010
11:06 am
that is normal the cook eats last or the next day if it is for a crowd or one on one doesn’t eat as much as the one who didn’t prepare it….hell me i am pinching throughout the cooking so I have had a whole plate! lmao just being real! lol
Dig That
March 26th, 2010
11:06 am
“But it can not beat if she is standing on your chest with both stilleto’s or one and squats down to your face while he nail dig into your thighs.”
Is this the same Carlito from couple weeks ago or a new dude also named Carlito. You was from Mayberry last month and now you seem like you getting ya groove. ATL has rubbed off on you. Run it playboy
DreamsMaterialize
March 26th, 2010
11:07 am
PrincessNIK
Yeah the red beans and rice go down real nice, especially if you have the real hot sausage from Louisiana.
Lady J
Wines are really good for flavor. Here’s a secret (or maybe not): Most people use “cooking” wine. It’s ok, but you can add another dimension to your food if you actually use quality drinking wine. In my opinion, any wine you cook with should also be good enough to drink.
kimmie
Trader Joes is on point. They have a good selection of spirits. I might have to try that marsala sauce. Sometimes I get lazy too. lol
Leggs
March 26th, 2010
11:07 am
@Professor/Raqi ~ you’re right, Carlito is sizzling in the kitchen and having his dessert in the bedroom. Your roll call of the other bad boys is on point! Oh, don’t forget the baddest badboy of them all, Rell!
Slim Coo-Coo
March 26th, 2010
11:07 am
Dig Yeah St Ides and Boones Farm…I’ll never forget that time we were all playing skrip uno getting fkcd up! Back then we were all newbie drinkers so mixing light & dark was no thang…but when you throw a bottle of Boones Farm on top of that….Ewwwwww! Left looking like the exorcist in only bra & panties. LOLOL
Carlito
March 26th, 2010
11:08 am
I am usually tipsy by the time I am finished cooking.
Tazzee - 49 days til Mrs.
March 26th, 2010
11:08 am
Lady J – my fiance’ just left, he said he had a ball!!! He was impressed at the number of Dad’s that showed up and there were more coming.
Sassy Me...Sun kissed :-)
March 26th, 2010
11:08 am
At that point, we will have the official Freaky Friday kickoff.
So umm what we waitin fo….I’m leaving work early,too so I want to get my blog rocks off before I go….lol
Mo (aka Moeisha - TGIF)
March 26th, 2010
11:09 am
Dig That -”The funny thing is when I have cooked, then I am never hungry after the meal is prepared. Is that typical or just one of my quirks?” Its not just you, i am the same way! All that preparation and when Im done I dont even want to eat.
Carlito – well dayum playboy…..lol! Freak Friday is about to jump off!
Lady J
March 26th, 2010
11:09 am
nothing like going shopping and getting away to a villa on some beach and cook and drink wine and cook and everything in between….only go out one night to eat but certainly cook breakfast and a great surf and turf @ the villa with good music great card game or taboo just priceless! 2 couples or just you and your boo!
Sassy Me...Sun kissed :-)
March 26th, 2010
11:10 am
St Ides and Boones Farm
Dont forget the Cisco….
Dig That
March 26th, 2010
11:11 am
@LadyJ
Probably because I used to have a horrible at experiences after leaving my trips grocery shopping. I finally figured it out tho thanks to a good friend. I used to have a bad habit of going to the store after burning some purp and kush and be at the counter with a total bill of bout $300, get home and with all them bags and nothing to cook. LMAO!!!
The moral of the story is NEVER GO GROCERY SHOPPING HIGH FOOL. Everything looks so good.
Lady J
March 26th, 2010
11:11 am
tazzee parental involvement is #1!!!!! Mommy and me day is coming and you know I will be there shining with my lil superstar! i missed my baby this weeke no lie when I got in last night it felt empty without her! tear! lol but I will never take that from her dad! lol
I am glad your boo enjoyed it!
Sassy Me...Sun kissed :-)
March 26th, 2010
11:11 am
I am usually tipsy by the time I am finished cooking
Tipsy and at attention
I’m sorry I couldn’re resist…. 
Carry on…
DreamsMaterialize
March 26th, 2010
11:11 am
However, Que Chef seems to be a good brutha so far
Slim you dating a college youngin? robbing the cradle? lol
Carlito
March 26th, 2010
11:12 am
Dig That, I am just a little more comfortable. Besides Mayberry has a small nightclub scene. Why do you think city folks love country folks of the opposite sex. Because we have nothing to do but freak each other all of the time
. LOL And plus me and my ex are back together so the self- drought is over. 
ONE TIME (no sweat) TWO TIMES (better yet) THREE TIMES (can she make it, can she hang?) FOUR TIMES (she’s in the game) 
Dan
March 26th, 2010
11:12 am
Y’all up in here ackin like MD 20/20 (purple) ain’t never set nothing off.
That had you waking up with her draws on….
Dig That
March 26th, 2010
11:13 am
@Sassy
A brick of that Mad Dog 20 20 will have you howling at the moon too.
Raqi
March 26th, 2010
11:13 am
And if you really want to heat things up, end your meal with some human sundaes. Chock full of nuts, Cantaloupes, cream pies and all. (pun very much intended)
Sassy Me...Sun kissed :-)
March 26th, 2010
11:13 am
…..NEVER GO GROCERY SHOPPING HIGH FOOL. Everything looks so good.
Learnt that lesson a while back myself…luckily I never ended up with a bill that high.
THE INFAMOUS DK AKA MR FLAT SHOALS PUBLIX
March 26th, 2010
11:14 am
Kimmie – Trader Joes got the bomb a$$ soyaki sauce too… MMM good on just about everything..
Lady J
March 26th, 2010
11:14 am
dreamsM cooking wine naw I just the wine on the wine rack! ha! I just like white wine though lol
Lady J
March 26th, 2010
11:15 am
dig that you are a riot! lmao @ you!
Slim Coo-Coo
March 26th, 2010
11:16 am
Sassy Cisco was definitely part of our Novice Drinking Menu Yuck now tho!!!
Dig LMAO@ “NEVER GO GROCERY SHOPPING HIGH” When I used to burn I never like going shopping. Just seemed like I’d be moving in slow motion, walking around the store for hours with only 3 items in my cart which mostly always was a bottle of wine, some sort of dessert and a box of swishers LMAO!!!!!!!