Find love in the kitchen

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A vine romance: You might find the love of your life over the chopping board

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Flirting With Flavour, Wine-Tasting Speed-Dating, Cooking For Crumpet - these are just a few titles of some unusual dating events for tomorrow's Valentine's Day. Food and drink, it seems, is the new black for those seeking romance.

Katie Caldesi of Flirting With Flavour, a monthly cooking course for singletons at Caffè Caldesi in London, says: 'Cooking brings romance. People are easily wooed with food. I met my husband, Giancarlo, through food. I went to paint his restaurant and thought it was heaven when he cooked pasta.'

It's easy to see see why food gets the juices flowing. 'Food is a great ice-breaker,' she says. 'A date is nerve-racking but a couple who cook together can laugh at the ingredients - a slimy fish, say - and praise each other when it tastes good. Our courses last for three hours. At the end, everyone feasts together and you can see people bonding.'

Aphrodisiac's delight

To ensure amour tomorrow night, Caldesi has potential suitors make fresh pasta with truffles - supposedly an aphrodisiac - seabass and, to finish, a sumptuous chocolate torte. Dating agency Parship has also launched a range of dating classes at Leiths School of Food and Wine in West London. Penny Lukats of Parship says: 'The courses are not cheesy. When cooking skills are involved, people tend to relax.' Like Flirting With Flavour, couples swap partners after rustling up each course.

Elixir of love

A little more decadent is Glasgow's Glengoyne distillery (makers of the late Queen Mother's favourite highland tipple), where romance is blooming on a new crash course in whisky blending for singles. The guests are let loose on samples where they embark on some 'nosing' and 'blending', followed by a group supper. Glasgow is 24km away but most prefer the cosy accommodation in the nearby village of Drymen.

For Bill Devitt, his lesson at Leiths last November boosted more than his gastronomic skills. 'We all cooked a spinach soufflè, then griddled a salmon fillet with saffron noodles and made chocolate roulade with Cointreau and oranges. I walked one of the ladies to the Tube. Since then, we've become an item. We cooked together over Christmas and we'll be doing it again tomorrow night.'

GOURMAND LOVE SCHOOLS

• Whisky blending for singles. Glengoyne distillery, near Glasgow. Tomorrow, £50. Tel: 01360 550 254.

• Flirting With Flavour cooking course. Caffè Caldesi, London W1. Tomorrow, £90; then April 14, £55. Tel: 020 7487 0750/9. www.caffecaldesi.com

• Wine-tasting dating. National events, dates and prices vary. Prince's Trust event, London. March 14, £30 (half goes to charity). www.grapevinesocial.com

• Parship dating classes. Leiths School of Food and Wine, London. Places for boys tomorrow and for all on March 13, £90. Tel: 020 7014 4046. www.parship.co.uk

TOP FOUR SEXIEST WINES

Alessandro Marchesan, head sommelier at London's savvy Zuma and Roka restaurants, reveals the wine trade's best-kept secrets.

• Perfect pink champagne: 'Valentine's is champagne rosè day. Try Billecart Salmon. It has hints of strawberries and raspberries and a beautiful, creamy texture.' From £14. www.bbr.com or Oddbins

• The most sexy red in the world: 'Rioja. My favourite is Marquès de Vargas Reserva 2001, a stunning medium to fullbodied-wine with lots of cherries and a vanilla background. For its quality, it's a bargain.' £15.86. www.weaverswines.com

• For drinking while dining: 'Champagne Devaux goes wonderfully with a meal. Drink with a seasonal dish of game and mushrooms.' From £15. www.vinatis.co.uk

• A white to melt the heart: 'Sancerre Cuvèe Maxime from Vincent Delaporte will impress. This is full of lovely passionfruit, gooseberries and other aromatic characters. It looks sexy, too.' £15.95. www.londonfinewine.com Zuma: www.zumarestaurant.com

 

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