Author: Amy Reiley

ISBN: 9780977412006

The following review was contributed by: Kate Andronov

“The act of eating is a multi-sensory experience, and when combined with the right ingredients and intentions, food becomes positively sexual”, writes Amy Reiley in her introduction to Fork Me, Spoon Me: The Sensual Cookbook.

A unique approach to cookbooks, Fork Me, Spoon Me is a delectable example of the recent trend in the worlds of gastronomy and erotica – the combination of the two, where food and sex become intertwined. With steamy chefs such as TV domestic goddess Nigella Lawson, and ‘sexy’ becoming a favorite adjective for culinary creations, the direction of cuisine seems to be headed towards “a world”, as Reiley states, “in which food possesses the power of extraordinary sensuality on its own, or as a prelude to unparalleled bliss.” A Master of Gastronomy and an expert on aphrodisiac foods, Amy Reiley understands this sensual connection like no other.

Divided according to meal order into starters, main courses, sauces, drinks, and desserts (with the structure inspired, as Reiley admits, The Joy of Sex, “the ultimate cookbook for sensuality”), the book’s 37 recipes base themselves upon Reiley’s list of her 12 favorite aphrodisiac foods. The suggestively named dishes range from Hot Honey Nuts to Hard Tacos with Hot Guacamole, to Morning After Fig Scones, and are kept simple in preparation, featuring fresh ingredients, tantalizing textures, and luscious flavors. Reiley infuses her writing with her love for food and a playful and passionate approach to cooking and eating, and sprinkles the book with chatty comments, suggestions, and personal experiences, making for a fun read, not just a recipe collection. The only improvement would be the addition of photos to provide a visual of the recipes and heighten the mouth-watering factor.

Fork Me, Spoon Me is definitely more than just a cookbook; it is a sensory reading experience. Even if you are not a cook, the book is enjoyable to flip through, and Reiley’s enticing recipe descriptions are bound to awaken the appetite and make anyone want to play with their food. Tantalizing, scrumptious, and sexy, Fork Me, Spoon Me is an adventure in cooking, that will definitely tickle more your taste buds and will leave you looking at your fridge in a whole new way.