Eat, drink and get lucky

>> Cooking and dating
combine at Cookdating.ca

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Christina Mucciardi

Age: 28

Occupation: Co-proprietor of cookdating.ca

Bio:This tasty St-Leonard gal is part of the team responsible for bringing the world Cookdating.ca. In operation just under a year now, Christina can already count over 2,000 members to the site, all hungry singles eager to pick up a few gourmet cooking tips while at the same time perhaps finding a li’l good lovin’ to add to the recipe. For somewhere between $75 and $95, depending on what’s on the menu, you can head on over to Cookdating’s downtown loft, learn how to prepare a three- to four-course meal from one of the city’s top chefs, drink and eat to your heart’s content any maybe even find that certain special someone to lie down with at the end of the evening.

Does cookdating.ca function more like a cooking class for singles or a dating service? “It really depends on the night. Members tell me they like us because they’ve been to other online dating services and find people don’t always represent themselves honestly. Fake profiles, people who don’t look anything like their picture, married men who only tell them of their status after they’ve met, that kind of thing, which doesn’t really happen with us. The best case scenario here is you’ll meet the man or woman of your dreams, and at worst you’ll meet some nice people, eat a good meal, learn a new recipe and get to know some of the chefs at the best kitchens in town, maybe even get a discount from them next time you go to one of their restaurants.”

Is this possibly the greatest gig in the world for a good-looking chef with a healthy libido? “Yes, it is. And I’ve made a point of hiring chefs who have good personalities, that’s pretty important, because most people are kind of nervous and shy when they first come in. But our chefs do little things, like make little jokes or whatever, to help everyone feel comfortable when they first get here.”

Are participants generally seeking serious relationships or simply a partner to dine and sleep with? “I think most would prefer a serious thing. They’re often professionals looking for an alternative to the bar scene. But don’t get the wrong impression when I say ‘professionals.’ It’s a fun crowd. We’ve got music going, candles—the atmosphere is anything but prudish.”

Do they make a point of staying away from nasty breathinducing ingredients like garlic, or likewise foods that might make participants gassy, farting rarely playing a helpful role in the art of seduction? “Well, hmm, we haven’t had a class where we’ve prepared beans yet, I’ve tried to avoid that, but garlic, yeah, if it’s in the recipe then we’ll mention it on the menu, so you can always opt out of that ingredient if you want.”

Musical preferences: Madonna, Frank Sinatra.

Last book read: The Celestine Prophecy, by James Redfield.

Words of wisdom: “Enjoy every day to the fullest, life’s too short.”

Comments: Dimwit@openface.ca