Ever since Marc Anthony fed grapes to Cleopatra, sensual foods have been intertwined with romance. "Intercourses: An Aphrodisiac Adventure" at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel follows suit by bringing together cookbook author Martha Hopkins and executive chef Andri Tscharner for a week-long affair February 10 -17, 2001.

Integrating both edible and non-edible themes from Intercourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge, the Valentine's holiday promotion at The Fairmont Miramar Hotel will include aphrodisiac-inspired cooking classes, dinners and accommodation packages.

Hopkins will be making a number of public appearances alongside executive chef Tscharner in an aphrodisiac cooking class and sampling at the hotel on February 10th and 11th at 2 p.m.

The Intercourses' cooking class includes champagne upon arrival, 1½-hour demonstration and food sampling, and an autographed copy of the cookbook for $45 per person and $75 per couple, not including tax and gratuity. (Chef Tscharner will also conduct a class on February 17 at 2 p.m.)

"Whether you're cooking for the one you love, cooking with the one you love, cooking to get the one you love, InterCourses—the book and the cooking class—will help bring heart-melting dishes to the table, the bed, or wherever one might be entertaining this Valentine's Day," says Hopkins.

For those who prefer to leave the cooking to an epicurean professional, a seven-course Intercourses' themed dinner menu is available Saturday, February 10, Wednesday, February 14, and Saturday, February 17 in the Grille restaurant along with an autographed copy of the book for $125.00 per couple, not including tax and gratuity.

Inspired by several of the aphrodisiac ingredients recommended in the book, the menu features white asparagus with blood orange 'cappuccino'; artichoke bisque and sundried tomato gnocchi; seared rare Ahi tuna, Asian frittata shallot crisps; marbled mango and lemon sorbets; entrée choice of pinenut crusted rack of lamb, apricot honey jus, polenta timbale and haricot vert-root vegetable bundle or Maine lobster, Malpeque oysters and black mussels in basil-sauvignon broth with truffle foccacia; finished with hot chocolate pudding cake with vanilla gelato and toasted almond whipped cream, and coffee et minardises.

Romance accommodation packages are also available February 9-18, 2001. Couples booking the "Straight from the Heart" and "The Sentimental Journey" packages over the weekends of February 9-11 and February 16-18 will receive complimentary admission to one cooking class on the day of their choice.

"Straight From the Heart" includes Fairmont accommodation, champagne and roses upon arrival, breakfast in bed, an autographed copy of the cookbook, and gratuities from $359 per night per couple, not including taxes and subject to availability.

"The Sentimental Journey" includes Fairmont Deluxe accommodation with ocean view, champagne and roses upon arrival, dinner for two in the Grille restaurant, an autographed copy of the cookbook, breakfast in bed, and gratuities from $499 per night per couple, not including taxes and subject to availability.

A wonderfully private location, coupled with spectacular ocean views, poolside bungalows, lush gardens, and soothing waterfalls, have all stoked affairs of the heart at the Miramar for more than century.

Love has been flourishing there since 1875. That's when former Nevada Senator and founder of Santa Monica John P. Jones first fell in love with the beautiful vista and decided to build the original Miramar family mansion. Subsequently, many guests and luminaries who have fallen in love, tied the knot, honeymooned, or simply enjoyed a romantic getaway there.

For more information, or to make reservations for any of the Intercourses' food-related events:
Reservations hotline: 310.319.3113
Accommodation packages: 310.576.7777

Edited by Stacey Brown