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Love Bites: Aphrodisiac Foods Love Bites: Aphrodisiac Foods RSS

By Meghan Healy Luecke, Contributor

Whether you’re looking to spice up your relationship or tantalize a new date, sexy foods are always a winner. But Aphrodite works in mysterious ways--you might be surprised by some of the world's most renowned aphrodisiacs. Since you probably won’t make it to Central America to collect the roots of a Socratea exorrhiza, here’s a list of easily accessible aphrodisiacs sure to tempt your taste buds and your date.

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Photo credits: Couple by Shutterstock/Diego Cervo; Arugula by Shutterstock/Magdalena Kucova; Balut courtesy Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer; Chocolate courtesy Ghirardelli; Ginseng by Shutterstock/Jeannette Lambert; Truffles by Shutterstock/Mr. Mario; Produce by Shutterstock/L F File

On This Page: Arugula, Balut, Chocolate, Ginseng, Oysters, Truffles, Wine, Miscellaneous Aphrodisiacs

Arugula

Arugula
This dainty, bitter leaf, also known as the “rocket seed,” is popular in gourmet salads and pasta dishes. It’s rich in iron, which can’t hurt, and has been prized as an aphrodisiac since ancient Roman times.

  1. Herbivore

    983 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA
    Vegan couples will feel randy after sharing the all-arugula salad garnished with fresh fruits and vegetables at this reasonably priced vegetarian restaurant.

  2. Palmetto

    2032 Union St, San Francisco, CA
    Love is in the air--and in the menu, too--at this Mediterranean favorite in the Marina, where arugula is incorporated into creative salads and small plates.

  3. A16

    | Website

    2355 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA
    For $3, lovebirds can add arugula to any of the wood-fired pizzas at this esteemed southern Italian restaurant.

Balut

Balut
If you really want to get exotic, try this Filipino and Cambodian delicacy: a boiled late-stage duck egg that tastes like a cross between a hard-boiled egg and cooked duck. Find it at Filipino grocers south of the city or at limited Filipino restaurants.

  1. Goldilocks Bake Shop & Restaurant

    4516 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
    Originally founded in the Philippines, Goldilocks now has thirteen North American locations and is one of few places in the Bay Area to find authentic Filipino cuisine, including delicacies like balut eggs.

  2. Turo Turo Restaurant

    984 Geneva Ave, San Francisco, CA
    A homey spot offering low-cost Filipino delicacies a la carte.

  3. Manila Oriental Market

    950 King Plz Ste 112, Daly City, CA
    Much like the large grocery stores on Clement street, this Mission street market sells a diverse array of Asian specialty foods.

Chocolate

Chocolate
For an easy pleaser, try a rich chocolate dessert to inspire your lust. Whether it’s the serotonin in chocolate that gets you going or merely the sensual pleasure of eating it, chocolate has been celebrated throughout the ages as a sexual stimulant. The Aztecs considered it the food of the gods; tribal leaders consumed it in mass quantities to keep them going with hundreds of sex partners. Here are some local favorites.

  1. Joseph Schmidt Confections

    | Website

    3489 16th St, San Francisco, CA
    San Franciscans love this artisanal chocolatier that specializes in truffles and pralines. It’s also a great place to find romantic gifts like delicate, colorful chocolate roses.

  2. Ghirardelli Square

    900 N Point St, San Francisco, CA
    One of the most famous sites in San Francisco, Ghirardelli Square is a great place to take a date for beautiful views, quaint (if touristy) atmosphere and, of course, chocolate in many forms. Try a hot cocoa from the chocolate shop on a cold day.

  3. Cocoa Bella Chocolates

    2102 Union St, San Francisco, CA
    The owners of this Marina chocolatier modeled it after old-World European shops and take great pride in their luxurious creations.

  4. Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker

    1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA
    Dark chocolate is the specialty here. Whet your appetite with chocolate-making demonstrations in the historic Ferry Building.

  5. Tartine Bakery

    600 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA
    If you prefer your chocolate served inside a scrumptious pastry, head to this busy neighborhood bakery and café for éclairs, chocolate hazelnut tarts and other treats.

Ginseng

Ginseng
Find this aphrodisiac in its many forms at grocery stores on Clement or in Chinatown. It’s known to be especially powerful for men and can be consumed directly as a dried root or cooked into soups, teas and meat dishes. Add bits of fresh root or ginseng powder when cooking rice to infuse the starch with an earthy, bitter-sweet flavor--then brace yourself for the full effect.

  1. Vinh Khang Herb & Ginseng

    512 Clement St, San Francisco, CA
    Beyond ginseng, this shop offers herbs to cure any ailment; ask to speak to the on-site Chinese doctor if you’d like a solution for headaches along with your love potion.

  2. Tian Shan Ginseng & Tea

    1341 Stockton St Ste 4, San Francisco, CA
    Try this tea shop in North Beach for brewed ginseng.

  3. Tai Fong Wo Herbs

    857 Washington St, San Francisco, CA
    An herbal shop since 1922, this Chinatown apothecary boasts an endless array of herbs, spices and dried foods, as well as beauty products.

Oysters

Oysters
The Greeks may have Aphrodite, but it was the Romans who identified many of the foods still used as aphrodisiacs in modern times. They cherished the oyster for its erotic symbolism. Today, oyster bars across the city afford San Franciscans this decadent pleasure. Oysters have been found to contain sperm-enhancing zinc and acids that may increase testosterone--so keep those contraceptives handy.

  1. Hog Island Oyster Company

    1 Ferry Plz, San Francisco, CA
    This is the place to be for fresh Bay Area oysters, served up for locals and tourists alike. Snag waterfront seating to dazzle your date.

  2. Zuni Cafe

    1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA
    Posh crowds fill this classic San Francisco restaurant, where the sparkling oyster bar and ample wine selection will keep you and your date busy.

  3. Absinthe Brasserie & Bar

    398 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA
    Oysters and shoestring potatoes may seem like an odd combination, but these are two of the signature offerings at this elegant, low-lit Hayes Valley venue.

Truffles

Truffles
No, not the chocolate kind. Be prepared to give an arm and a leg in order to please the rest of you with this pricey, seasonal menu item grown underground. Black truffles are popular through fall and winter and may last even longer. White truffles might only be on the menu for one month in late fall. If the price of fresh truffles (and the gourmet meals that tend to go along with them) turns you off, try cooking your own dish with truffle oil, available year-round.

  1. Perbacco

    230 California St, San Francisco, CA
    Truffle-herb gnocchi, truffle with rabbit, truffled meat balls…Perbacco has this aphrodisiac any way you like it. Call ahead during the off-season to make sure they have these menu items.

  2. Boulevard

    1 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
    A long-time San Francisco favorite, Boulevard serves Oregon white truffles with handmade pastas and ravioli stuffed with black truffles.

  3. Oola

    | Website

    860 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA
    If the truffle craving hits you long after dinner hours, head here for a midnight snack. Open until 1am most nights, Oola serves a unique truffle cheese on their hamburgers and incorporates truffle oil into many of their other dishes.

Wine

Wine
What better aphrodisiac than wine--and what better place to enjoy it than California? Some studies show that port wine is the most powerful alcoholic aphrodisiac for men, but other wines will likely have the same effect (when consumed in moderation!). Try one of these elegant venues or specialty stores, and let the seduction begin.

  1. CAV Wine Bar

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    1666 Market St, San Francisco, CA
    You’ll never run out of options here; CAV has hundreds of wines on its impressive list, and also serves reasonably priced small plates.

  2. First Crush Restaurant Wine Bar & Lounge

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    101 Cyril Magnin St, San Francisco, CA
    A romantic date spot for your first crush--and your second, and your third--as well as for those refreshing a long-term relationship. Try the wine flights, three, one-third-full glasses of select wines, for the full experience.

  3. EOS Restaurant & Wine Bar

    901 Cole St, San Francisco, CA
    Timeless décor and Asian fusion meet with an extensive wine menu to create a classy Cole Valley date spot.

  4. Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant

    | Website

    1 Ferry Plaza Ste 23, San Francisco, CA
    Wine flights, top regional wines and knowledgeable staff make this a sure thing.

  5. PlumpJack Wine Shop

    3201 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA
    Plumpjack’s gourmet wine gift baskets could be the perfect way to deliver your aphrodisiac of choice for a special occasion; otherwise, try one of their classes or monthly wine-tasting sessions.

Miscellaneous Aphrodisiacs

Miscellaneous Aphrodisiacs
If you still haven’t had your fill, here’s a list of miscellaneous aphrodisiacs you’ll find all over town: sweet basil, almonds, pomegranate, ginger, garlic, asparagus and kelp. The aphrodisiac challenge: try using as many of these ingredients as possible in a dish for your date. Find them all at farmers' markets in the city.

  1. Ferry Building

    Market and Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA
    An upscale market (with upscale prices) for fresh, organic produce of all kinds.

  2. Alemany Farmers' Market

    100 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco, CA
    This underappreciated market is a gem, with specialty ethnic foods and a variety of produce.

  3. Heart of the City Farmers' Market (U N Plaza)

    1182 Market St Ste 415, San Francisco, CA
    A busy market turns Civic Center's windswept concrete into a great source for low-cost produce.

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