Sex in the kitchen? Spaniards do not use food in seduction techniques

SPAIN (Agencies) A report emerged recently from the makers of Gallina Blanca (soups, sauces, etc.) in an unlikely alliance with Meetic (an online dating service): One in three Spaniards have never used food as a tool for seduction; only 6% do so with any frequency. The report, which contains some interesting material and is based on interviews with 1000 people, is called Cocinar con amor (Cooking with Love), no less. As we said, it contains some interesting information, largely centered on the act of love, some of which we reveal below. (IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, PLEASE STOP READING RIGHT THIS MINUTE!).>>>
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The inhabitants of this great country do not seem too enthusiastic about being seduced through food. They don't seem to use it as a prelude to lovemaking.

On being asked "What possibilities does a handy cook have of seducing you?", only 19% answered 'plenty' and 24% said 'none'. It is true, however, that among the 25 to 35 group of youngsters, the positive response rises to 30%. Not surprisingly, though, only 7% of those over 55, can't be bothered.

Home cooking doesn't stand much of a chance, either, apparently. Over half the answers say they're more comfortable in a restaurant, while 36% prefer to cook at home (is it because the bed is closer, one wonders). This is not surprising in a culture where celebrations tend to be held outside the home.

The survey begins to turn somewhat bizarre when the subjects are asked to identify themselves with four dishes on a 'seduction' scale. Almost half see themselves reflected in a seafood paella ("powerful, tasty and traditional" says the survey). 20% identify with spaghetti a la carbonara ("always ready for action, no complications"). The more sophisticated, only 19%, opted for a wild mushroom risotto ("complex and delicate, with a touch of sophistication"), and the remaining 14% chose an onion soup ("homely and simple").

Here we go with the age differences again. The spag lot was up to 46% with the 25-35 group -- 26% of the over-50 wrinklies feel closer to the soup-my-granny-made.

The better part of the report comes at the end. Of a meal.

The question was what dish they considered the most sensual, to be prepared by poth parties jointly in the kitchen. Strawberries and cream (56%), covering a cake with chocolate (30%), kneading dough (8%), 'bathing dishes in honey' (6%).

Now then, a couple of thoughts. The erotic-meter range of an antique passion (strawberries and cream) in 2011 is notable but kneading dough as the doorway to heaven is almost dangerous in its perversity. And if I should ever be invited to 'cover a dish in honey' I would have no second thoughts -- and run as fast as I can. No wonder it isn't rated too high (6% of 1000 people is 60 people, hmmm).

As might be expected, there is a celebrity section in Cocinando con Amor, something common to deep analyses and reports wishing to appear in the more serious media. Anyway, Angelina Jolie is the favourite among men, followed by Elsa Pataky, Shakira, etc. etc. etzzzzzzzzzz. Sorry; fell asleep. Among the women the faves are George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Richard Gere, Papa Smu ... oooo, no, no sex fantasies with him, surely. Ah, but this part of the report wasn't about bedroom fantasies, rather whom the subjects would like to share a meal with. Right.

Aside from this silliness, the survey does come up with some somewhat deeper questions that give some idea of the interest in the culinary arts in the country of the Superchefs. Fully one third of the population does not like cooking, but half say they do. The next question was asking the latter if they actually did (do any cooking), and I am willing to bet that the percentage drops considerably.

Separated into sexes, women enjoy cooking more than men: half against a little more than a third. By age, the group that better appreciates the art is between 35 and 45. Those that take the least pleasure in it are in the 55+ bracket: two out of every five have never cooked.

Two interesting items: only 8% of men -against 21% of women- say that "the kitchen is where I unfortunately have to spend a lot of time," which once again proves that it is the women of Spain who carry on working in the kitchen while their mate watches the telly. And lastly: the vast majority of those surveyed prefer cooking alone.

Don't know what that last bit says about the relationship of food and sex, but there you are.