Why is it when we want to describe something extraordinarily delicious to someone, we say, "It melts in the mouth!"?

Be it a light, fluffy ensaymada, a precious slice of Wagyu beef or a liqueur-filled chocolate truffle, we relish the way the food lingers in our mouth and close our eyes to savor it even more.

The sensation of food melting on our tongue, with its 10,000 taste buds concentrated on that relatively small area, is able to send waves of pleasure throughout our body. When we taste a flavor that appeals to us, we remember it and want to experience it again. I've often wondered, how many gigabytes (bites?) of memory does our taste bank hold?

People have been known to make special trips and do crazy things just to get a taste of heaven in their mouth. for a restaurant to be awarded two stars in the Michelin Guide, it must have food that is "worth a detour" and to get a very rare three stars, the food must be "worth a special journey."

Some people clap and squeal in delight when their favorite food is served to them, while some even dance and hum while munching on something special. Nowadays, people tweet and blog about their dining experiences simply because they want to share the joy of eating.

Everything in this issue is all about spices and heat, chocolate and sweets, Valentine's Day and celebrations of love. It's all about spoiling ourselves and our loved ones with the sweet, the savory and the spicy.

I am especially proud of our Dining section this month, featuring romantic date night restaurants, with twelve pages of the most beautiful photographs of food created by extremely talented chefs. We've also selected four more places that specialize in nothing but chocolate. If you love chocolate (don't know anyone who doesn't!), you will still be amazed at how creative chocoholics have become.

Whether you believe in aphrodisiacs or not, I think what matters more is the enjoyment of what you're eating - whether it is a meal at a high-end fine dining establishment or even simple street food, any palate pleaser is sure to put anyone in the mood for love and romance.

We at Appetite are here to indulge you and let you revel in the joy of cooking and eating. Thank you for inviting me into your kitchen!