Inter Courses an aphrodisiac cookbook

by Martha Hopkins, Randall Lockridge

Forget Spanish fly or powdered rhino horn; if you want to get your lover in the mood, look no farther than your local supermarket. Strawberries, chocolate, asparagus--even coffee--have long been considered stimulants for the romantic appetite. For centuries, folk wisdom held that foods either rare or resembling a sexual organ had tremendous power over the libido. Modern science has since debunked that theory, but there's no denying that a meal lovingly prepared and properly presented with just the right ambience can precipitate the most passionate encounters. In Intercourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook, Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge appeal to all the senses as they offer up 85 heart-melting, temperature-raising dishes, along with an array of sensuous photographs that will make you look at food in a whole new light.

The book is divided into 17 sections, each one devoted to a particular food with aphrodisiac qualities, from chocolate and chilies to black beans and oysters. Following these are recipes for massage oils, seasonal dishes, and meals to appeal to every astrological sign and every stage of a relationship, from first date to golden anniversary. There's even a list of resources on subjects ranging from further reading on aphrodisiacs to locating aromatherapy candles. Just reading Intercourses is a sensual experience--imagine what eating from it will be!

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Romance, Relationships

144 pages

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as titillating as you might think; we picked up this aphrodisiac cookbook at a women's sex store in Madison a few years back. It has a number of simple recipes based around different aphrodisiac's (coffee, avocado, black beans, chiles, chocolate, grapes, etc). I thought I'd add this to the list after trying a really simple, really delicious indian-spiced chicken pita sandwich with a mint mayo sauce.

The cookbook itself is a joy to page through. Great (and, ok, somewhat titillating) photography adorn the pages (no pics of the different recipes - just the aphrodisiac ingredient and body parts). There are romantic/funny/sexy little stories that introduce each recipe, and the chapter headings introduce each ingredient. There are even some recipes for massage oils in the back.

It's a fun book, and it really does have some surprisingly good recipes that are easy to make and prepare.

[SmartBitches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Intercourses is a fun cookbook about the link between food and sensuality that is sexy enough to make a good romantic gift but is also full of really good, practical food. I love this cookbook and although I can’t say that it has done much for my love life, it has provided me with some fantastic meals. It’s a beautiful book to look at, a fun book to read, and full of great things to eat.

This cookbook works on two levels. On one level, it’s a romantic, slightly sexy book that is PG enough that you can have it out on your shelf all the time. It has some lovely photography that is more or less safe for work, but also sexy. Most of the recipes come with a little story about a real couple and a memory they have about food.

The book includes recipes for edible flowers, plus recipes for massage oils, a guide for what to serve at any hour of the day, a seasonal guide, and suggested recipes for different stages of a relationship, complete with a playlist. Recipes for food include obvious choices like chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, and surprises like asparagus, basil, and pine nuts. Every section has an introduction that addresses why particular foods were chosen. Let’s just say that I’ll never look at an artichoke the same way again.

- Carrie S.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not only a fun book for couples to peruse, but also a book with some very good ideas for cooking together. I just checked our food blog and see that we have cited it more than a dozen times. Few cookbooks in our collection have reached that mark.

http://nuevareceta.blogspot.com/searc...

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" encourages consuming foods within their season, which I wholeheartedly support, this book opens a path to truly utilizing food in its full sensory context. What is food, if not a sensual experience from beginning to end; and, if you are not using your senses when thinking of,shopping for, preparing and consuming a dish, then what benefit are you truly receiving, other than calories?

It is a great way to experience for the first time or to re-experience foods in inventive recipes.

[Tom Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook was FANTASTIC! I bought it as a joke for my Poly Cookbook Club, but the recipes were so varied and interesting that we decided to give it a try. The book is separated into sections based on ingredients that are all aphrodisiacs, as evidenced by the bibliography. It’s clearly well-researched. The recipes were all delicious, including my herbed risotto with mushrooms and rosemary.

The book includes some risqué art photography combining bodies and food, and most recipes include a cheesy story—they were pretty bad, but overall the book, and dinner, was great!

[Kathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spectacular recipes. But still a fun cookbook. Nice photographs, but no photos of the finished products (recipes). Just photos of the different sensual ingredients and shots of different body parts. Also some fun, cute, romantic, sexy, and comical little stories before each recipe. And some recipes for massage oils in the back of the book.

[Jazmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basil, Pinenuts, Honey, Chocolate....
Each Aphrodisiac food has a dedicated chapter with sensational sensual photography.
The Tomato soup recipe is so delicious. And yes, I did try this out at the beginning of
a relationship and I reckon his heart did melt into that soup.

[chvang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the recipes I've tried turned out very well, esp. the chocolate croissants.

But mostly, I like the pun. Worth a snicker.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

We received this as a gift and now I frequently purchase this as a wedding gift for others, with its beautiful pictures and recipes to encourage passion.

[Chrystine Nehs]

Reading: terrifying.

Recipes: Amazing!

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite gift for bachelorettes. A little dirty but still appropriate in front of mom/auntie/grandma 🩶

[Nan The Great · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cookbook suggests a variety of recipes that contain foods believed to be aphrodisiacs.
Whether you believe in the erotic power of food or not, this book is a dream!
Separated into chapters by the sexy ingredients such as grapes, ginger, rosemary, honey etc. the book is filled with creative recipes not just the same old oysters on a half shell.

The photos in the book are not of the finished meal, but lovely combinations of the ingredient and people. The cover shot is an example but not the strongest image in the book.

This is an incredible gift book for anyone you know who loves to cook and create in the kitchen

[Fostergrants · Rating 4 out of 5]

the photographs in this book are really beautiful. it includes the history and lore of aphrodisiacs, anecdotes from romantic dinners, poetry and recipes. this is a great book to inspire you for those special occasion dinners you cook at home for or with your lover. reminds you what you may have forgotten about food amidst all the diet and nutritional concerns...food is a sensual pleasure to be indulged and enjoyed with someone you love!

[Erik Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good recipes and better stories. Not every, but many, of the recipes are proceeded by the experience of a couple of varying age, relationship length, and even designation that really kept me interested in reading the book cover to cover. The recipes themselves or mostly simple. Some are complex but doable, I think. I look forward to trying them, but don't expect any updates on their success here : )

[Kimberly Kincaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book both as a food lover and for research on a chef character I'm writing into a novella, and I really enjoyed it! The photography is beautiful, the recipes not too complex or overly strange (although I am fascinated by a few of the suggested flavor combinations), and the stories and experiences were wonderful. As someone who truly believes that food is love and that food is very, very sexy, this was right up my alley. Very sensual book.

[indiefishsteak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this cookbook for many reasons. The photographs are beautiful and inspiring and the anecdotes are great. The recipes are mainly good, I haven't come across anything that was super amazing, but I like that the focus is on how you cook it and the mood, not just the food. To me how you cook a meal influences how it will be eaten and digested, and this brought that across.

[Jennifer Fenwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite cookbook of mine. I have never made anything from this book that's not tasty. The premise is that all the recipes have aphrodisiac ingredients. The photography in the book is really cool and interesting. However, it's set up oddly - it lists foods by ingredient, rather than category (main dish, side dish, dessert) so you have to sift through it a bit sometimes to find what you want.

[Bailey Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this informative cookbook appropriately at Victoria's Secret about 3 years ago and I love it! Not only does it have a little history lesson of why certain foods are considered aphrodisiacs, but it contains some DELICIOUS recipes! It's sexy, it's romantic, it's challenging, and informative..all the perfect ingredients to make a really special night!

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

another of my favorites for the stories and BEAUTIFUL pictures. they are so stunning, some of them, I would even blow them up and put them on my wall. they have some lovely desserts in this book but it's more of a philosophy than a die hard cookbook.

[amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cookbook. All the recipes I've made have been delicious, it may secretly be the reason I started eating meat again.

Also the photos are beautiful.

I could do without the silly quotes from couples; guess I'm not that much of a romantic.

[Reeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great steamy cookbook - the title says it all. Great photos too. Most of the recipes are good - the honey pecan french toast and the kaluah chocolate cake are two absolute favorites - but steer away from the strawberry pasta - yuck!

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girls, there's alot more out there than oysters...get the night sizzling with succulent spicy shrimp, triple x chicken, pine nut pie...I swear they will keep coming back for more! This book has never let me down!

[Natassia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as full of recipes as I was hoping. The authors admit right away there is no evidence which, although quite accurate and brava to them for being straight up about it, sort of takes the fun out of it.

[Rachel Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike and I have had a good time [wink wink] working our way through this. Many happy traditions such as starting the weekend with espresso over ice cream came from this cookbook. I, of course, love the chocolate and aphrodisiac cocktails sections.

[michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get your heads outta the gutter! Sure, the blatant message is about sex, but the actual recipes are what bring me back for more. I use many of these recipes for different potlucks - so beware! :)

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually by a friend of mine, or rather, a person I had the pleasure of meeting and eating with. It is awfully fun and a wee bit naughty.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes are simplistic (but good party/potluck food!), but the photographs are beautiful. And it *is* a pretty interesting concept...

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yum! Thanks Reeve for sharing this book with me when we lived together. It has some of the best recipes in it including Chocolate Cake.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is great for making a candle lit dinner for two. I love the different ingredients that they say "do the trick"!

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is FANTASTIC. It's my standard wedding gift. It has terrific recipes and great photography.