"Caviar is an aphrodisiac. Everyone knows that.  Here, you try some, then call me tomorrow; let me know if it worked, how you felt," said the representative for Bemka House of Caviar in a thick French accent.  I was at the head-spinningly huge Fancy Food Show at New York City's Javits Center, a chef's/foodie's/aphrodisiac hunter's dream come true in the form of several story's worth of sample-laden booths.  And, while there's no scientific evidence behind caviar's aphrodisiac qualities, I'm not one to turn down such an offer (I wouldn't want to be rude).  He scooped a dollop of three varieties—paddlefish was my favorite—onto blinis. 

Next up... truffles!  Again, why are truffles known as an aphrodisiac when there's no science behind the myth?  At this point, I'm beginning to believe that, through the years, people have come to use the words "aphrodisiac" and "expensive" interchangeably.  But arousal can be mental, so if you're convinced, it may just do the trick.  Start with Fabrique Delices truffle mousse.

I knew that oysters are aphrodisiacs (duh), but did you know that mushrooms are an aphrodisiac, too?  Go for the double whammy with smoked oyster mushroom chowder from Fungus Amongus... if you can you handle it.  [Cue porn music.]

At this point, I'd eaten my way through countless aisles, and it felt like I hadn't made a dent.  I was exhausted!  So I stopped at a booth featuring Lavazza espresso for a jolt, coffee being—yes, you guessed it—a stimulating aphrodisiac. 

Garlic was another one of my surprising aphrodisiac discoveries.  Yes, garlic.  Bad breath may not be sexy, but the Web site Garlic-Central.com (you can't make this stuff up) goes so far as to say that, "Tibetan monks were forbidden from entering the monastries if they had eaten garlic... presumably because of its reputation for inflaming the passions." But, on perhaps a more relevant note, a study out of Berlin says, "The pungent plant helps by widening arteries and improving blood flow to the groin. It is also known to boost creation of nitric oxide, a chemical involved in triggering erections."  That got your attention?  Then try the unbelievably delicious and oh-so-garlicky (for better or worse) ready-made escargot from White Toque.  Maggie, Michele and I were mighty impressed with the in-shell presentation and—get this—they come frozen, so you just heat them up in your oven whenever you're ready.  (Just wash them down with Binaca.)

And then there was the chocolate.  (See "Chocolate: An Aphrodisiac or Better Than Sex?") It was everywhere!  At one point, Michele turned to me and said, "You know, at events like this, even chocoholics like you and me reach a point where we just don't want any more."  I never reached that point.  I did, however, eat my body weight in some of the highest quality chocolate on the market.  It's not widely known that raspberries, bananas and almonds are all aphrodisiacs, but I had each of those items dipped in chocolate.  It was heavenly.  Orgasmic even. 

...Except when the pushy salesman at a certain not-to-be-named steak sauce booth insisted that Michele and I try a spoonful (a spoonful!) of his sauce when we had just swallowed some rich dark chocolate.  There aren't many downsides to attending the Fancy Food Show, but chocolate with a steak-sauce chaser?

Check, please.

And, to answer the Bemka man's question, how did I feel?

I felt sick.

(Good thing ginger, and therefore ginger beer, is an aphrodisiac that also soothes an upset stomach!)