I’ve met a lot of great people over the years and one of the most fun has to be Jennifer Iannolo. She has an ultimate passion for food and life and if your brand is looking for someone who understands social media, food and life then you should certainly contact her for some consulting work.

I believe that if every guy could master the art of cunnilingus and cooking then they could win any woman’s heart. Because of this, I wanted to get her take on the intimate qualities of food that she’s been talking about as part of her Sex on a Plate concept. What follows is a little Q&A and I did with her.

What is your culinary background?

It seems like I’ve done just about everything there is to do in the food world. I started out as the “Salad Girl” at a local restaurant as a teenager, and went on to produce food events around the world, including the James Beard Awards (the food “Oscars”) in New York.

Prior to launching what is now the Culinary Media Network, I was the Director of Culinary Programs for Relais & Chateaux, a collection of some of the world’s finest hotels and restaurants. A lot of my inspiration came from working with chefs like Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter and Daniel Boulud, as I noticed that each brought a very unique philosophy to his cuisine. This is where I started making the connections between food and sensuality, noticing that in crafting a dish, they were, in a way, making love to every person in their dining rooms. Chefs are sultry creatures.

What is one simple meal that any guy can make to get a girl in the mood?

This, of course, depends on the girl, but the premise is the same, and the root of what I’m talking about: The simple act of nourishing another person with a hand-crafted meal says, “I care. I want to take care of you in a very intimate way.” Food and sex are the only two things that engage all of the senses so potently, so you might consider the first a foreshadowing of the second.

In fact, if you serve finger foods, it intensifies the intimacy — so much so that you might consider it the foreplay.

The most important thing to remember, however, is this: You are priming the senses in anticipation of what is (hopefully) to come after, so keep it light. It’s very tough to enjoy sex if one is overstuffed.

I recommend crafting a couple of easy appetizers that can be made ahead to…prime the pump. Don’t forget to feed them by hand whenever possible.

• Figs & Cheese
  What could be more sensual than the fig? Adam & Eve covered themselves in fig leaves, but I hope they indulged in the actual figs first. Ripened figs served with a bit of Spanish Manchego (a very mild, soft cheese) are simple yet indulgent, and are very sultry.
• Fruit
  Strawberries dipped in raw sugar, grapes or pieces of apple coated with cinnamon sugar
• Seafood
  Lobster pieces dipped in vanilla butter
• Porcini Dusted Scallops
  These would be tough to feed by hand, so I recommend a fork. They are sumptuous, however, and offer a light but fulfilling satisfaction:

Is it really better to make a homemade meal over going out to eat?

The complex answer: Making a meal oneself adds another layer of caring to the process. It is such an intimate act to nourish another person in this way, and the only — aside from sex — that provides life-giving energy to the body. Think of the power in that.

The simple answer: When you make a meal at home, the bedroom is closer.

We both know food is fun in the dining room, but what about in the bedroom? Isn’t that more messy then sexy?

For the most part, yes. Having said that, I do not discount a good bottle of olive oil, a couple of drops of honey, or the delights to be found in whipped cream. Throw a towel on the bed and have a little fun, I say.

Tell me more about what you are trying to do with Sex on a Plate?

When I first started talking about “sex on a plate” on Twitter, it was merely my way of talking about dishes or food experiences that really evoked my senses, or put my mental mouth into high gear. Now that it has taken off, I’m encouraging people to talk about what turns them on from a food point of view, and it’s leading to discussions of the parallels between food and sex.

This makes me very, very happy. It is my life’s mission to help people understand how the two are connected, and how awakening the senses intensifies one’s interpretation — and enjoyment — of the pleasures to be found all around us.

What is the most amazing meal you ever ate?

Oh goodness, this is a tough one to answer. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the world’s greatest chefs, and to eat some of their most divine creations, so I’ve had a lot of amazing meals. I think the most memorable bite, however, was a perfect tomato served at the chef’s table at Alain Ducasse in Paris. I was a guest of chef Charlie Trotter, and the bite came from his plate, which was offered to me when my eyes lit up at the sight of that ruby red deliciousness. This is what I mean about the act of sharing — if it were my plate, it would have been memorable, but because it was someone else’s, shared with me, it became unforgettable.

I’ve got the great meal, but I’m not much a wine guy. What other drinks can add to the mood?

This is a tricky question. One’s mind might automatically veer toward beer, but I’ll add a caveat: If you are going to serve beer, you want to avoid the “overfull” feeling that comes with it. The way around that is to pour the beer directly down the center of the glass (please don’t serve it in the bottle). It will form a large head, but this is good: Let the beer sit so the bubbles can evaporate, because that will rid the beer of a lot of its gases, and sidestep that bloated feeling you might otherwise get.

A comfortable stomach is important for dessert.

If you want to go the non-alcoholic route, consider still water with lemon or lime. Fruit juices and other drinks will take away from the meal in most cases.

So all of this leads to a night of great sex and then the morning comes. What can a guy do in the morning to make it perfect?

Bring me coffee in bed, just the way I like it.