Ahh, Valentine’s – love it or hate it, it rolls around every year, seemingly bigger, brasher and more expensive each time. It doesn’t have to be though. A meal at home with wine and pudding is my preferred choice. As long as I’m spending it someone special. It doesn’t need to cost the earth. And it certainly doesn’t need to be as lavish as the advertising would have you believe.
Turns out, I’m not the only one who thinks this. HelloFresh have conducted a survey of the most popular aphrodisiacs for British couples and the results are interesting! Forget oysters! Steak, curry and roast dinners are the most popular foods to get us … well.. in the mood!
Over a third of British men and a quarter of women are planning a romantic night in this Valentine’s Day. Couples are choosing to shun busy restaurants in favour of an intimate night alone. When it comes to the menu, the most popular dish to cook up on date night is steak, with 35% saying that it’s the perfect recipe for a night of passion.
A full roast dinner is the second most popular choice, with two in ten (22%) respondents saying the traditional British meal is the best way to seduce their other half. It’s well-known that spicy food can act as an aphrodisiac (and my very favourite), so it’s no surprise that 17% of those surveyed reported that a curry is their go-to dish when cooking up a night of romance.
See the stats for yourself:
“At HelloFresh, we believe that food and love go hand-in-hand at any time of the year. So, it’s no surprise that seven in ten people prefer being cooked for on a date night, than being taken out for dinner,” says Patrick Drake, Co-founder and Head Chef at HelloFresh. “When it comes to food to get you in the mood, forget fancy delicacies – it’s the good old British classics that are the clear winners.”
“Recipe boxes are a great solution for Valentine’s cooks looking to impress without stress,” adds Patrick Drake. “A box of ingredients delivered to your door can help to take the pressure off, giving you more quality time together. The way to a partner’s heart is really is through their stomach.”
However, beware the curse of the full stomach. Of those surveyed, nearly a quarter said that a romantic evening in had gone wrong. The most common reason: ‘eating too much’. Well, we’ve all been there at one time or another, haven’t we?…
