Food Sex

Valentine's Day is coming up. Something that anyone in a relationship, trying to get out of a relationship or dying to be in a relationship, knows. It isn't one of my favorite holidays, but it certainly brings up some fun food conversation, so I'm thinking about devoting a post a day this week to the wonders of love, sex and food.

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Food porn is a staple of the current food industry. It's hard to define, but you know it when you see it. Photos of silky soups adorned with crusty croutons and delicate shavings of Parmesan... chocolate cakes laden with pillows of butter cream frosting and slices of red, ripe strawberries, lightly dusted with powdered sugar... it's a photo wherein the combination of color, consistency and awesome lighting beckons you with the seductive whisper of, "Eat me."

But lately I've been thinking about good Food Sex. How certain foods combine with other foods to create a unique, sensual, blissful, delicious experience. Yes, chocolate is good on its own (very good) and peanut butter is good on its own, but the two together....? THAT is good Food Sex.

And it isn't limited to just couples, either. Food Sex can work in three-ways, foursomes, whatever tickles your fancy. And the food doesn't have to be sexy on its own either. As you'll see in my list below, I mention some very un-sexy foods.

So here are some of my favorite examples of good Food Sex... I encourage you to add to the list.

Peanut butter and chocolate

Ginger, coconut milk and lemongrass

Soy sauce and mushrooms!

Whiskey and black beans

Labne, sriracha and lahmajuns (Armenian pizzas)

Chicken fingers and ranch dressing with a bit of Frank's hot sauce

Salt and vinegar and fried potatoes (in chip or fry form)