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Giovanni Pernice loves Gola restaurant in Fulham, London (Image: ITV)

Giovanni Pernice is known to love eating at Gola in Fulham, West London – a venue famed for its aphrodisiac ingredients that get guests “high”.

Now Express.co.uk can reveal that they “sometimes” serve up a rare type of honey, which can cause harm in large doses, but when safely added to a meal can simply leave diners feeling intoxicated and “sexually stimulated”.

The so-called “mad honey” is only produced in parts of Turkey and Nepal, where it is consumed as a recreational drug – and it can get diners so high that it’s even been banned in South Korea.

It’s totally different from normal honey, as bees feed on a specific rhododendron flower pollen before producing it, which adds a type of toxin to the resulting product. A student of Socrates in ancient Greece recorded a group of soldiers over-indulging in the honey after happening upon a beehive in Turkey, leaving them all vomiting and barely able to stand up.

Later, in 69BC, Pompey the Great’s army were allegedly deliberately poisoned by the honey after local forces planted it along their marching route to subdue them. In the present day, however, it’s used in a controlled way as a substitute for Viagra – and as a medicine and recreational drug too. It’s totally legal in the UK, but not available in supermarkets.

Giovanni Pernice and Rose Ayling-Ellis at Gola restaurant (Image: INSTAGRAM)

Aaron, a rep for Gola, revealed to us that the restaurant “sometimes” uses the honey in its menu – and that it’s hugely popular. He explained: “One of the most requested dishes is tortelloni stuffed with pecorino cheese and honey, with chopped pistachios and fresh truffles.”

Everything in the dish is chosen specifically for its aphrodisiac effect, with Aaron revealing that the truffles “contain natural pheromones called androstenone and androstenol, which give them their musky scent”.

He adds: “Even regular old honey has been used as a natural libido booster for centuries, though there’s little evidence of its aphrodisiac properties. However it does contain boron, which helps to regulate hormone levels, and nitric oxide, which could increase blood flow during arousal.”

Then there’s the special honey, for an added high, while pistachios also increase blood flow and have been used as a natural remedy for erectile dsyfunction.

The traditional Italian cooking with an aphrodisiac twist has tempted many high profile celebrities – “from actors, singers, politicians, businessmen, football players worldwide, to Saudi Princes etc”.

Aaron added of the secluded West London venue: “I am very sought after and in demand. I often have requests for reservations from restaurants in Mayfair who send me super VIPs because they are the ones who require maximum privacy that they do not have in central London.”

Giovanni was one of those happy to sacrifice his privacy, as he posted pictures of himself and Rose Ayling-Ellis eating there together after winning Strictly Come Dancing back in 2021 – though it’s not clear if he sampled the mad honey.

However, visitors could also find themselves dining alongside famous faces who haven’t revealed themselves online.

If you decide to try out so-called “mad honey”, it’s best to indulge at a restaurant rather than buying online, where you can’t guarantee a safe and authentic product.

For couples who anticipate the aphrodisiac effect at Gola working well, there are a couple of top quality hotels within a few minutes drive.

Doubletree by Hilton London Chelsea is close to Chelsea Bridge, for those wanting a romantic stroll, has surprisingly luxurious rooms for the price point and for lunch the next day, the in-house Cre Restaurant offers up a mix of Thai, Sri Lankan, Middle Eastern and traditional British ingredients.

For those with a little more cash to splash, The Other House Hotel in South Kensington, a ten minute drive from Gola, offers apartment living and access to an exclusive members’ only club for free for the duration of your stay.

The secret downstairs club has maximalist interiors, with jazzy music, tropical-themed decor and huge bird statues to greet you on your arrival – and there are private booths behind velvet curtains to ensure maximum privacy.

Strictly fans may want to follow in Giovanni’s footsteps and enjoy a date night at Gola – and, with rave reviews about the ingredients, they’re unlikely to be disappointed.