From DCist contributor Eleanor Davis

In order to promote her Valentine’s Day Aphrodisiac Menu, Andale chef Alison Swope is offering “romantically inclined” Washingtonians a chance to create their own recipe for love. Create a three-course dinner menu for the object of your affections, along with a 100-word essay explaining your choices, and you could win big. First place is an all-expense paid trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, where Chef Swope first fell in love with Mexico. Four runners-up will win dinner for two at Andale. Entry forms will be available at Andale on Feb. 1, with the winners announced Feb. 21.

Swope’s holiday dinner menu will be available from Feb. 10 through Valentine’s Day, and includes a wide range of culinary love potions. Peckish paramours will start out with traditional oysters on the half shell, before moving on to a more avant garde Crema de Garbanzo soup. According to the press release, Roman soldiers used garbanzo beans as horse feed to keep their stallions virile. While DCist doesn’t find that image particularly appealing, the “Vuelve a la Vida” seafood entrée sounds tasty, and the Avocado and Macadamia nut ice cream would get our motor running for sure.

DCist’s suggestion for a winning entry? Think less Smoove B and more “A Wedding Story.” Last year’s winner was a groom to-be who used the trip to Oaxaca as his honeymoon. If DCist wins we’re going to use our trip to check out the Food of the Gods culinary festival in October. Fried grasshoppers and tequila tastings, now that’s romantic!