MAN EATER

As a 20-something single woman, I had an insatiable appetite for men.

If you are what you eat—or who you eat it with—I was binging on beefcake of the tall, dark, and handsome variety. Soon my standards plummeted so low that men were simply meal tickets. If I continued to rely on men for my soul food, I was bound to starve.

I vowed to do things differently in the dating department. I’d let men approach me, I’d play hard-to-get, I’d follow The Rules.

Then I met Puck, a sports medicine specialist, seafood aficionado, and sex-pert all rolled into one.

The Canadian cutie encouraged me to experiment. He taught me that eating wasn’t only for nourishment; it was a carnal, visceral, sensual experience. With the right man, the right ingredients, and the right ambiance, eating could be more satisfying than sex—unless it was sex with Puck.

You know the drill: Boy meets Girl. Girl falls in love with a fantasy. Reality hits and relationship implodes. Puck filled me up—then he broke my heart.

Every woman has dated—and been dumped by—a Puck. And every woman has her own way to cope with the loss of love. Some knit. Some meditate. Some journal. Some drink.

I took refuge in the kitchen. My goal: to recreate the meals I shared with Puck and heal my heart in the process.

As I baked and broiled my way through my former flame’s favorite dishes, I relived my tumultuous affair with Puck. I cooked, I ate, I wrote, weaving the recipes with the romantic anecdotes that defined our relationship.

Other memorable men and the meals I shared with them came to mind. Soon I had a feast for every man I’d ever fallen for! As I conquered more and more complex recipes, I reclaimed my self-esteem. As each dish came to fruition, so did the healing. Cooking was my cure for heartache.

The content on this website is just a taste of my forthcoming book, MAN EATER.

Read excerpts of my most memorable relationships in The Men section, test out the recipes on The Meals page, and follow my spicy chef- and sex-capades in real time on the blog! If you're hungry for more, read my bio and stroke my ego!

New culinary creations--and kinky sex stories--will be posted regularly, so check back often!

Bon Appetit!

--Erica Rivera

Twin Cities hip hop hottie Kristoff Krane had so much fun during his Pad Thai-infused interview with Erica Rivera, he freestyled a rap about it! Eat up Kristoff's spicy recipe and sweet relationship advice here!

WHAT DOES YOUR FAVORITE STARVING ARTIST EAT?

Kristoff Krane's Phat Freestylin' Pad Thai

Casey Call's Freaky P.O.T. Marshmallow Eggs

Rogue Valley's Eggstasy Sandwich

The Goondas' Debauchery Pasta

Grant Dawson's Gluten Free (but berry gluttonous) Pancakes

Matthew Inkala's Muchecinnahon Sandwich