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Sex and Psychology Podcast
Episode 372: Lustful Appetites
Feb 18, 2025
Rachel Hope Cleves, a history professor at the University of Victoria and award-winning author, delves into the tantalizing ties between food and sexuality. She discusses how women's appetites have been seen as reflections of their sexuality and the historical shift of restaurants from erotic spaces to dining spots. Cleves also explores the unique association of gourmet cooking with gay culture and how cooking has served as a tool for seduction. Plus, she examines the modern social media landscape where food and sex continue to intertwine.
33:43
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Quick takeaways
- The evolution of restaurants from spaces for both dining and sex to food-centric establishments reflects changing societal attitudes towards gender and sexuality.
- The ongoing intersection between food and sexual expression is evident in modern culture, particularly through social media's blending of eroticism and culinary delights.
Deep dives
Erotic Origins of Restaurants
The history of restaurants reveals that their origins were intertwined with sexual encounters, particularly in France during the 1800s. Initially, French restaurants served as venues where men could dine and engage with sex workers, with their reputation firmly rooted in this dual purpose. As these restaurants spread to the United States, private dining rooms continued to foster this association, making French eateries synonymous with illicit sexual activities well into the 20th century. Notably, even a cookbook from the 1960s referred to a French restaurant’s unique social implications, highlighting the lingering connection between dining and sensuality.
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