Finding True Love

According to a 2008 article I can across in New York Magazine, British men are brushing up on their skills in the kitchen in hopes of capturing the lady of their dreams! Termed “gastrosexuals” by author of the Brit column quoted in Grub Street, “… 23 percent of 18-to-34-year-old British men say they cook to potentially seduce a partner, and 60 percent regularly cook for friends and family.” Read more…

Personally, I think the Brits are onto something. What lady doesn’t love a man who can bring home the bacon and cook it too? The rise of the “macho” male celebrity chef in England has apparently inspired this shift to the kitchen in search of love. But many American women growing up in the 1950’s already knew what these men are just starting to find out: food is a viable means of seduction. In the book, Finding Betty Crocker, Susan Marks talks about the love food connections and highlights some charming ads for baked goods entitled Beau-Catchers and Husband Keepers” and “Kiss-n-make-up cake”.

So now that gastrosexuals on are the rise, what will be the outcome? I’m wondering what really happens once these men dazzle their ladies in the kitchen. Are they really ready to commit – to cooking that is? Will they just love the meatloaf and leave it once they’ve met their romantic goals? Well, I decided to poll my girlfriends to see what they thought. Let’s find out if women really do care if a man can cook. Here’s what two of them had to say:

Elizabeth, age 32, Film Producer

Q: Do you think a man that can cook is sexier than men who can’t?  Why? If so, on a scale from 1-10, how much does their sex appeal increase when you know that they can rock it at the stove?
A: Doesn’t everyone think a man who cooks is sexier than a man who doesn’t? I would say that their sex appeal increases by 6 when I find out that they can rock the stove.

Q: If you had a choice between the two which is more important, a man who can cook gourmet and prepare “speciality” or holiday meals from time to time, or a man who would want to cook week night meals, on a regular basis.
A: Both? Well, if I absolutely had to choose, I would say the every night guy is is the guy for me. (More opportunities to cook together!)

Q: What is the funniest or most exciting experience you’ve had with men in the kitchen (I mean FOOD-wise of course!!!) 
A: I don’t know if this qualifies, but when we were newlyweds, we couldn’t sleep one night, so we did what any newlywed couple would do. But then we still couldn’t sleep, so instead of doing what a any newlywed couple would do again, we made pancakes.  To this date, pancakes always strike me as a little sexy.

Q:  Who do you think is the sexiest male celebrity chef and why?
A: George Duran, maybe because he speaks so many languages, he’s funny and he has fun with food.

Lola, age 35, Creative Director

Q: Do you think a man that can cook is sexier than men who can’t? Why? If so, on a scale from 1-10, how much does their sex appeal increase when you know that they can rock it at the stove?
A: Yes, definitely, because cooking is a skill, a passion, a creative outlet. Sex appeal increases by 10!

Q: If you had a choice between the two which is more important, a man who can cook gourmet and prepare “speciality” or holiday meals from time to time, or a man who would want to cook week night meals, on a regular basis.
A: On a regular basis

Q: What is the funniest or most exciting experience you’ve had with men in the kitchen?
A: Making sushi. we learnt a lot about each other’s characters, for example there is no right way of doing things… there are many different ways to achieve the final goal.

Q: Who do you think is the sexiest male celebrity chef and why?
A: Iron chef – Michael Symon, because he is charismatic, has a beautiful smile and sense of humor. I love the sound of his laugh.

Related Posts

  • Rise of the ‘gastrosexual’ as men take up cooking in a bid to seduce women.
  • Do couples who cook together stay together? Find out on Canada.com.
  • I Love You, but You Love Meat. Can different food preferences mean the break up blues for couples?

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