sounds of love

Music has a way of making you feel a certain way. Some songs pump us up, some make us mellow. Here's some suggestions for a dinner with someone you love.

Breathless - Corinne Bailey Rae
At Last - Etta James
To Be Alone with You - Sufjan Stevens
Someone to Watch Over Me - Sting
Each Day Gets Better - John Legend
And I Love Her - The Beatles
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
It's Sweet - Liz Phair
You're Beautiful - James Blunt

The scent of love

As far as the senses go, odor is said to be our closest kin to memory. It's no wonder that some scents can evoke a powerful, romantic response. Think of these scents next time you plan a dinner for two.

Ancient Arabic books cite black pepper as lascivious
Legend has it Cleopatra used a mixture of cinnamon, cardamon and rose to woo Marc Anthony
Lemon and citrus are said to be revitalizing
Black licorice will draw women near
and Men supposedly think of love with a wiff of cinnamon and vanilla

love notes

Try adding your own romantically inspired fortune cookie message to give a happy ending to a Chinese meal. Here are some suggestions:

- A secret admirer will soon send you a sign of affection.
- Don't forget, you are always on my mind.
- The one you love is closer than you think.
- One who admires you greatly is hidden before your eyes.

romance and love cookbooks

A cookbook can provide great inspiration, especially one with a focus. Two of our favorites are A Taste For Love and The Food and Love Cookbook.