Valentines Day in the English speaking countries of the world usually means the giving of chocolate treats to the one you love.
Chocolate ๐
The giving of boxes of chocolates on Valentine’s day can be attributed to some very clever advertising by Richard Cadbury, of the Cadbury chocolate-making dynasty back in Victorian times.
Chocolate historically has been thought of as an aphrodisiac right back to the times of the Aztec’s. Pursuing your intended love interest with chocolates and a card, possibly anonymously, in my experience has never been particularly successful. They don’t give the chocolates back though!
Love Hearts ๐
There is an English proverb that says “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” ie feed me well and I will love you.
For young boys, the way to impress a girl you see in the playground with your feelings of youthful passion is to buy her a packet of love hearts.
As an added bonus, if you can’t pluck up the courage to approach her you can always eat them yourself!
Food for Valentine’s Aound the World ๐
However, couples in other countries celebrate Valentine’s with different food so I thought it would be interesting to get together a collection of ideas and some recipes to try out on my long-suffering wife!
You can ask me on February 15th how I got on.
๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico – Pollo Pibil ๐
Lovely citrus and achiote flavoured chicken will impress your other half at any time of year.
Have a go at making this colourful and tasty chicken yourself …
๐ฎ๐น Italy – Baci Perugina ๐
Italian dark chocolate with hazelnuts from Perugia.
๐ฆ๐ท Argentina – Revuelto Gramajo ๐
Scrambled eggs, Argentine style.
Try making this for your valentine’s breakfast …
๐ช๐ฌ Egypt – Fattah ๐
Fattah is usually eaten on the first day of the Islamic celebration of Eid al-Adha but will be found on dinner tables all year round.