Single City is a twice-weekly blog about the Chicago dating scene written by Sun-Times Media Wire reporter Sally Ho. Got a question? Email her!

There are few things I can brag about confidently. My cooking is one of them, so let me be the first to preach: "The way to a man's (or woman's!) heart is through his (or her!) stomach."

Cooking for your date not only shows you are thoughtful and skilled, it also (hopefully) results in a delicious, economical meal both of you can enjoy.

RICH MAN: Try a "Hands On" cooking class with The Chopping Block, which includes one-and-a-half hours of instruction and cooking, followed by the actual meal in full! Price varies from $65 to $85 with wine, depending on the cuisine, which varies to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Choose from Italian basics to a Julia Child-themed course, and even ones dedicated to cupcake, cheese and sushi-making. With a professional instructor, it will be hard to go wrong. Classes are small enough -- no more than 20 participants -- not to feel intimidating, but big enough to feel like a social event. Here's a schedule.

POOR MAN: Anyone who can read can cook. So buy a cookbook. Let your date pick a recipe. Do the prep work (that means grocery shopping). and voila! You've got a homemade (and reusable!) date for a super-low price. And if things are really working out, here are some couples' cookbook titles to consider:

• The New InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook, by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge
• Food as Foreplay : Recipes for Romance, Love and Lust, by Ellen Albertson and Michael Albertson
• A Taste for Love: A Romantic Cookbook for Two, by Elizabeth Harbison and Mary McGowan