 |
|
 |
|
|
 Eating
in Ecstasy
An Interview with Martha Hopkins, author
of "InterCourses"
(co-authored by Randall Lockridge)
*click here to see recipes
from InterCourses for your "I love
you dinner"!
Anyone who tells you food isn't an aphrodisiac has never had
honey licked from her toes! Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge
(her business partner of 6 years) know all about the amazing
powers of food in a romance, and have written a cookbook with
stunning photography that's so beautiful you won't want to
keep it on the shelf. Each "chapter" features a different
primary food element and explores its history in fertility,
hearth and sensuality. It's one of the hottest book selections
for Christmas this year!
Speaking in a soft Southern drawl, Martha tells LadyBliss
how she turned necessity into invention:
LB: Your book combines beautiful
photography with great
recipes, featuring specific key ingredients. What was
the inspiration for this approach to a cookbook?
 MH:
Our inspiration was totally unrelated to aphrodisiacs, but
something everyone can relate to. We had just graduated from
college and Randall finally got sick of my complaining because
we couldn't find work we liked, and so we decided to write
a book. But what to write about? Well, food and sex is something
we both like, so we said, "Let's go for it".
There are lots of books about using food as aphrodisiac, but
most aren't really into the food. And they don't have the
mouth-watering photography that ours does. We walked around
Memphis to find regular people with nice features (a good
looking back, etc.) and we asked them to pose for us. These
are normal people, not super models; they're secretaries,
firemen, doctors–from all walks of life, but they can
still appreciate the sensuality of food.
LB: Can food really make a
difference in a relationship?
MH: Yes, it can. When we first
started this book certainly I loved food and sex, but I didn't
believe in aphrodisiacs. But we had all the recipes tested
by couples all over the US. We asked them all kinds of questions:
How did they taste? How easy were they to make? What were
the aphrodisiac results? Here's something simple: coffee.
If your partner makes coffee just the way you like it, with
just the right amount of cream, just the right amount of sugar,
that coffee can be an aphrodisiac (and hopefully, he's going
to get something later as a thank-you!). There's something
about the act of preparing food for someone else that says,
"I care about you, you're worth my time." Actions speak louder
than words.
Beyond the theoretical, there's the innate sensuality of the
food. Asparagus is a phallic symbol, perfect to feed to your
lover (with a little prosciutto and vinaigrette, maybe some
juice dribbles down your chin and…!) And artichokes-you have
to tear out the prickly parts to get to the good stuff in
the middle. Blanching it brings out great, sensual colors.
Think about grapes: they're taut, and when you bite there's
an explosion of juice. The same words are used to describe
food and sex, juicy, sticky, hot. The basic complement between
the two makes them a great pair.
 LB:
Do you think that couples don't pay enough attention to
their mealtimes in today's hectic world?
MH: I really do. When you take
time to slow down, you remember why you fell in love in the
first place. Couples should take time to talk. Even just once
a week, sit down together at the table or in bed. Aphrodisiacs
don't have to be a five-course meal with a linen tablecloth.
It can be as simple as a mug of chocolate on the couch, or
a tailgate picnic at the drive-in movie. You don't have to
get overwhelmed with the cooking either. Use one or two recipes,
but use grocery store pre-made items to cut time. Get dessert
from your favorite restaurant. We have a recipe for French
toast with honey that's so easy. Most of prep work is done
the night before, so you just pop it in the oven the next
morning. What a great way to start the weekend!
LB: What has been the response
to your book?
MH: It's been huge. We've sold
150,000 copies so far. InterCourses is an ice breaker, an
excuse to have fun. Our buyers fall into all different categories.
Some are buying for a new relationship, for themselves, or
as gifts. Grandmas are buying it for their newlywed granddaughters.
Food can play an important role in our relationships and marriages,
and that concept is taking off.
LB:
Do you find that men or women are doing most of the cooking?
 MH: We get a lot of emails
from guys who are cooking our recipes. I'm not naïve, it's
not suddenly a 50/50 game, but I think more men will go out
on a limb, especially if there's a sexual reward for them.
LB: Do you take your own advice?
MH: Yes, I do. I'm not someone
who's going to squirt honey in my bed - that requires too
much trouble to clean up -- but I'm willing to take some chances.
I really do like the response I get from my boyfriend (he's
French) when I cook for him. I enjoy cooking, so it's a win/win
arrangement. For special occasions, I have no problem with
"9-1/2 Weeks" concepts, but not every day.
LB: What's the sexiest food,
in your opinion?
MH: Chocolate is a winner on
all levels. I know very few people who don't feel that way.
It's sweet and creamy, great for dipping strawberries and
fingers. You just can't go wrong.
LB: Why is all the sexy food
fattening?
 MH:
It's not! Dark chocolate, for one, has antioxidants and isn't
that high in fat. Our recipes feature lots of fresh veggies
and fruit. You don't want to eat a lot of heavy creams and
fat during a meal, because it weighs you down and makes you
groggy. Also alcohol, which does have aphrodisiac properties,
but can change the mood if you drink too much.
LB: How can we make Thanksgiving
sexy?
MH: Well, if you're not celebrating
with the entire family, just you two, then by default it's
an extremely special occasion. Think about showing your partner
that you care about them. Thanksgiving is time for being thankful
for what you have, and who better to be thankful for than
your special person? And hopefully, it's cold enough to make
you snuggle up!
 Buy
it now on LadyBliss! (Buy two–one for yourself and
one for a friend!)
 *click
here to see recipes
from the InterCourses cookbook for your "I
love you dinner"! |
|
|
|