A recent survey has shown that the most attractive thing a man can do is cook well. This may come as a surprise to the millions of men who work hard to earn the money necessary for flashy cars, large houses and smart clothes, but that's just the way it is. However, not all foods are as attractive as others!

Famous aphrodisiacs include strawberries and champagne, caviar and chocolate. Underrated, yet equally stirring is a good portion of smoked salmon. This aquatic delight has always carried a degree of prestige rarely attached to any food. Salmon is a posh fish!

Why is salmon a posh fish? Well, salmon was traditionally a very expensive dish; it is only in the past ten years or so that the species has been farmed to an extent which makes it as affordable as a pork chop. This has lead to a divide in the quality of smoked salmon on the market. Good quality, wild salmon still carries a price tag befitting the prestigious dish. Less expensive, farmed salmon also has its uses - it has achieved a similar status to a slice of ham as it will sit nicely in a lunchtime bagel.

Salmon purists are aghast at the amount of cheaper salmon on the market at present. Gerrard, a chef from Basingstoke, sums it up succinctly: "When I'm making a meal for my girlfriend, I want the fish to represent the way I feel about her. It has to be real Scottish salmon. It would be sending the wrong message if I was to serve her a mass-produced creature. She is a real foodie and could easily tell."

Jim, a personal trainer from Cardiff, swears by tasty salmon as an afrodisiac. "The lads at work think that the way to get a girl interested is to work out all day and then prance around on the dancefloor down at Creation. I know that all the girls really want is some roasted peppered salmon in front a good film on the telly."

So there you have it. Good quality, free range salmon is still a cut above most other foods on the market, while less expensive, farmed salmon makes for a perfect snack. For a loving, long term relationship, you should definitely consider pulling out all the stops and getting in some top-quality smoked salmon.