The Kitchen: The New Room Every Man Needs to Know His Way Around

It’s no secret that women want a man who knows his way around the bedroom, but there is another room every woman wants a man to know:

The kitchen.

Sheer possession of a Y chromosome means you are probably a grilling master and we women have come to expect that, so if you really want to dazzle us, know your way around the kitchen.

Do you need to be the next Emeril? No, but every guy should have a go-to meal he can whip up when he really wants to impress a lady. It doesn’t have to be complicated or fancy, but with the right embellishments, you can make her think it is. Then, trust me, she will be eating out of the palm of your hand and if you’re lucky, dessert will consist of more than your planned menu.

Appetizers

Think of appetizers as foreplay. The point is to entice her, to get her excited for the meal. Just like in the bedroom, if you’re really trying to impress and please a woman, you don’t skip this all-important element of kitchen seduction. It can be as simple as crackers and cheese (note:  you can buy cheese pre-cut, perfect for crackers), but focus on presentation. Actually take the cheese and crackers out of their wrappers and place them on a plate to have waiting when she arrives.

Time the main course so it isn’t ready until she has been at your place for awhile. Why? This creates opportunity for you. First, it provides a litmus test. Any girl worth your time will offer to help. When she does, you get to be the hero when you insist you “have it under control” and she should just “relax and enjoy (herself).”

Second, you get to show off a little.  Letting her see you in action, especially while she’s feeling pampered, makes the main course all the more tantalizing. (Yes, that goes for either room).

The Main Course

Men are always eager to dig right into the main course, in both rooms. Women do like the main course, but we want to savor it, relish in its sensations. As such, while you’re wooing her in the kitchen, three things become almost more important than the food:

Setting: You may be more than happy eating on the couch using paper plates, but your efforts will all be wasted if you do that. Set the table, make it look pretty. Use candles, a tablecloth. You don’t have to go crazy, but be creative. Just make sure it is different than the nights when you order pizza while watching a movie.

Atmosphere: Don’t turn on the TV, don’t take your phone to the table. Plan to talk. Striving to create a romantic atmosphere, one conducive to talking, makes her realize you’re going to an awful lot of effort, which means you like her. Music can help to set the mood (in fact, have music playing when she arrives).

Confidence: Don’t rush. Linger. Let her compliment you. Accept it in a humble, but knowing way.  You’re a confident man who knows his way around several rooms in the house, remember?

Dessert

In the kitchen, dessert is like cuddling; it completes the perfect experience. When you’re trying to impress, you never want to skimp there. Men tend to keep the focus on the main course, eating too much to even want dessert, whereas women look forward to dessert, save room for it and see something sweet as the perfect conclusion.

The best part for you? A little sweetness goes a long way, but don’t think that means you don’t have to do anything. You’re not the average guy who cuddles and falls asleep, right? You’re the guy who is tenderly stroking her arm, smiling contently, all the while making her pinch herself to be sure this is really happening. In other words, you dial it up just a notch.

Tell her to get comfortable on the couch while you get dessert ready. Then, slice up some strawberries or bananas to throw in the bowl with vanilla ice cream, then drizzle with chocolate sauce. Voila! With minimal effort, you’ve just become the champion at dessert and no one is going to question your manliness.

While the old adage is “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” it could easily be flipped to reflect women. We’re all suckers for a man who knows how to cook – in the kitchen or the bedroom, but preferably both.

For easy recipe suggestions, check out “The Go-To Meal to Impress Your Lady.”