9 Foods for a Romantic Dinner on Valentine s Day Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

9 Foods for a Romantic Dinner on Valentine s Day

Truffles chocolate caviar and maybe even some codfish promote love

Getty Images Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Look for “something satisfying that will put both people in a good mood and be eaten in a good atmosphere of happiness and warmth,” says Ariane Daguin, CEO of high-end specialty foods purveyor D'Artagnan, and a chef from a family of restaurateurs in France's Gascony region. Harvey Edelman, 71, a musical theater writer and marketing company owner in Jersey City, New Jersey, loves to cook. For him, making a meal romantic means “putting in the effort and not cooking something really easy,” he says. “I need to show my commitment cooking-wise." The meaning behind the meal always adds to the atmosphere. As Daguin says, “When you cook the food with love, it shows." Here are nine foods that will surely bring you closer on Valentine's Day.

1 Oysters

There's no truth to claims that these bivalves are aphrodisiacs, but oysters are loaded with zinc, which your body needs to make proteins and DNA, and it can . While the science is not so sexy, oysters are romantic “because what makes food romantic is its visceral nature, and oysters are extremely visceral,” says Sims McCormick, cofounder of Real Oyster Cult, which sources and curates oysters from sustainable farms and ships them overnight. “The fresh smell of the sea when you shuck the oyster, the merroir [the liquid that spills from it], the feel of plump, sweet meat in your mouth — it's sensual."

2 Caviar

Another food that claims to stimulate desire, caviar or fish eggs are said to have been a favorite of Casanova. That roe is rich in vitamins and minerals like (good for healthy circulatory and immune systems) and vitamin B12 (keeps nerve and blood cells healthy). And because caviar is so pricey, it's in that category of decadent things that people want to splurge on to show a lover they are worth it. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers >

4 Chocolate

The dark, silky candy has always had the cultural cachet of being a special, romantic treat. Chocolate contains the chemical phenylethylamine, which is a stimulant that appears to have positive effects on mood and triggers the release of pleasurable endorphins. But chocolate's voluptuous, creamy mouth feel is what keeps Valentine's Day gifters coming back for more. Again, scarcity will increase desire, so spring for something artisanal and high-end in the chocolate world — whether it's milk, dark or white chocolate — that's unique with complex flavors you can talk about.

5 Lobster

Lobster is often a bit messy which can translate to romance. “There is something sensual about eating with your fingers,” Daguin says. She suggests boiling the lobster with lots of hot spices and salt and pepper, so you don't have to re-season, and keeping it in the shell. Then dip it in truffle butter and share. The decadence of a morsel of lobster meat with hot butter dripping from it is hard to rival.

6 Wagyu Beef or Venison

Cooking something with a special ingredient always makes it more meaningful, Daguin says. Wagyu beef, with its highly marbled meat, is exceedingly tender and melts in your mouth with a rich and almost buttery taste, while a pink cut of venison evokes the outdoors. Paired with a red wine sauce, venison is something a bit more inventive than traditional steak. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe . When you put something in the middle of the table to be “convivial,” as Daguin says, those efforts will boost the romance quotient.

9 Fruit

Go with a color scheme as a Valentine reminder — red strawberries, pomegranates, watermelon. Some of those ripe fruits give off a sweet aroma and you can dip strawberries in chocolate to feed your partner. To get beyond traditional, give passion fruit or papaya — both of which are said to — a try. More on home-family AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Magazines & Resources offers > See more Home & Real Estate offers > See more Events offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS