Chapter 4
Setting the Mood
Music
Personal Hygiene
This might sound a little odd, but you don’t want to start dinner in your work clothes,
unless you’re an executive type and have been in the office all day. For you outdoor men
or women, take a shower. After you come home with the groceries, put them away; leave
something aromatic on the counter, such as fresh garlic, basil, and lemons, then get into the
shower. This shouldn’t be a quick shower; we don’t want to get all the way to third base only
to find out that you forgot to shave or wash behind your ears. Shaving is an absolute must, a
rough face for the guys or sandpaper legs for the girls can ruin the most intimate moments.
Don’t forget to clean your fingernails; you will be feeding samples with your fingers later. Men,
use cologne, she will be nibbling on your neck. Dress in something nice and comfortable. Look
good for each other; it shows you care.
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Music is an absolute must. It sets the mood. I
personally like Italian romance music. You may not
understand the words, but you can feel the romance.
They say Italians are very passionate people, so why
rewrite romance when we can follow their lead (did I
mention I am Italian)? I use Italian music to cook to all the time; the food seems to
come out better. You’ll need at least three CDs to get through the night. You start
the night with some soft rock and roll, and by the time you get to the main course,
the romance CD starts to play. I’ll give you an example. While I’m prepping, cutting
vegetables, chopping parsley, I listen to Billy Joel. We know all the songs and we sing
along to them; it’s fun. Just before the appetizer, Harry Chapin slides in with his soft
ballads, and we sing his hit Taxi. “It was raining harrrrrd in Friscoooo. I needed one
more fare to make my night. A lady up ahead waved to flag me down; she got in at
the light.” Don’t forget, we’re on our second glass of wine, and we both sound pretty
good. As I’m cooking the main course, the Italian romance music slips in, and I imagine
that I’m sitting at a café on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The Riolto Bridge is in
the background, gondolas are filled with couples snuggling up to each other, in one
of those boats is an opera singer serenading, and I’m with my wife, the person of my
dreams. Okay, you get the idea about the music.
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