TREAT YOUR VALENTINE (AND YOURSELF) TO THE SENSUALITY OF FOOD

Thanks to the proliferation of popular television food shows over the past decade, Americans have grown to appreciate the aesthetics of a meal almost as much as its flavor. Folks have discovered chefs are artists as well as cooks and bakers, and their colorful salads and abstract chocolate sculptures are works of art as well as good things to eat.

But there is yet another dimension of food to be explored, says Italian-born Chef Tiberio Simone, a James Beard Award winner and author of a provocative new coffee-table book, “La Figa: Visions of Food and Form” (www.LaFigaProject.com). Beautifully photographed by Matt Freedman, the book features full-color, artistically rendered portraits of the human body decorated with fresh ingredients.

Along with creative shots of the culinary crested curves, Chef Simone’s tome preaches the sensual pleasure of eating. “Food and touch are truly the basic ingredients of life,” says Simone. “If done properly, they will not only provide pleasure, but also engage and delight the senses. Take a peach, for example. Start by looking at its shape and colors. Press it just hard enough to feel the firmness and the touch of velvety skin, just like when you touch the skin of another person. I believe that fruits and vegetables respond to touch by releasing beautiful aromas for us to breathe in.”

Simone says his Italian heritage and his culinary fluency heightened his awareness of the sensual similarities between fresh, organic foods and the human body. Like the human body, every food in its natural state has beauty in its lines, shape, color and texture. And like the human body, food gives us exquisite pleasure on a primal level.

“Spend a little time looking for the sensual aspects of food,” Simone implores. “I guarantee you will become a pro at enjoying the sensual side of life.”

Among the tips Chef Simone gives to enjoy dining on a more sensual level:

CHOOSE FRESH, NATURAL AND ORGANIC

Sexy food still has the taste nature gave it, and there’s no better choice than organic food because it’s grown with love. A farmer’s market is a great place to shop because you can touch and smell the produce.

WATCH FOR ALLERGIES

If you’re planning a sensual meal for your lover as a surprise, be aware of any food allergies or sensitivities he or she may have. Also, foods can cause irritation, burning or rashes when placed on the skin, if a person has a sensitivity. This can be especially true for certain delicate body parts.

TAKE YOUR LOVER SHOPPING

View it as a bit of sensual foreplay. You can have a lot of fun caressing and gently squeezing the foods and inhaling their aromas. The conversation may prove to be entertaining, too.

EXPERIENCE THE SENSUALITY OF FOOD

Seduce your senses by breathing in the aroma of the dish. Close your eyes and inhale slowly so you can analyze and take in the ingredients. Take a small bite, roll the food around your tongue and in your mouth and make small sounds of pleasure. You might feel ridiculous, but it’s fun - especially on a romantic date.