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 by clicking on "The Meals" tab, and follow my spicy chef- and sex-capades in real time on the blog. Feedback is welcome; post your comments on the "Ego Strokes" page.

New culinary creations--and wacky relational anecdotes--will be posted regularly, so check back often!

Bon Appetit!

--Erica Rivera