LOS ANGELES—If the visual of bright white milk dripping down a bushy red beard is erotic to you (and it should be), Raging Stallion has a delicious recipe to satisfy your thirst. With the release of The Way to a Man’s Heart, the studio has crafted the perfect fusion of culinary and carnal desires. (Quite literally, but we’ll get to that later…)
The seeds for the project were planted a few years ago when writer/director Ben Rush was casting the studio’s 2023 horror feature Overdrive.
“I stumbled upon Tim James’ Instagram account. He is very engaging and offers his fans fitness tips and recipes that are bottom-friendly. Unfortunately, Tim’s schedule didn’t align with Raging Stallion’s production calendar, but I kept his social media feed in mind. When I was looking at our development slate for 2025, I wanted to marry a Valentine’s Day concept with a cooking theme, and Tim’s gorgeous face seemed to be the perfect fit.”
Rush chatted with frequent directing collaborator Steve Cruz about the project.
“A man who can and will cook puts me in an amorous mood, full stop,” says Rush. “I mentioned the idea of blending a seasonal romp with a culinary theme. Centering the movie on aphrodisiac recipes, considering the genre of entertainment we’re producing, was a natural progression of the idea. We ran it by Tim to gauge his interest and enthusiasm for the material, and then the research began.”
If the idea of a comedic culinary romp sounds like an odd choice for Raging Stallion, the success of the 2020 hit Cake Shop begs to differ.
“Ultimately, it’s the quality of men and the energy of the sex that makes a Raging Stallion movie,” says Cruz. “Cake Shop veered off into off-beat territory while staying true to that dynamic sex the brand is known for. It was both funny and raw. We also played with different political messages. The Way to a Man’s Heart rides the line between playful and raw in a similar way. Masculine guys cook. A man’s man might also be a foodie. Hey, why not?!” (Adds Rush: “Hot daddies need love, too! They’re not always in dungeons and dark warehouses.”)
Making his Raging Stallion debut, James was cast as the lead—a shirtless chef who streams his own series, Dirty Dishes.
“Who doesn’t love a meaty part? Tim is very knowledgeable about both food and sex, which is evident on his social media platforms. He’s also gorgeous, in perfect shape, and has a personality that’s made to be in front of the camera.”
The search was then on to cast his equally hot partner for the segment “Red Meat.”
“I’ve always had a thing for redheads. As our teaser campaign attests, ‘two reds are better than one!’” Rush says. “Once Tim was on board, I wanted to find the perfect scene partner for the opening episode. I’d seen Eddie Burke on X and on his fan platforms and, coincidentally, had the good fortune of meeting him in person through our mutual friend, Drew Valentino. He’s smart, charming, sexy as hell, and can act.
“Ultimately, the pairing was magical. As far as the milky-beard bit, I envisioned Eddie’s character as being a guy’s guy, a foil for his boyfriend’s passion for cooking and presentation. Plus, the visual of white liquid dripping from Eddie’s red facial hair was just…well…I’ll leave it there. I’m having a still photo of that moment framed for my office.”
For Cruz, the episode was a standout. “I always wanted to work with Eddie, and his chemistry with Tim was off the charts. ‘Flat Bred,’ the segment with Crush Daddy and Derek Kage, was also super exciting. They made the day fun on a personal level, and it was fun to watch them connect sexually. Brogan is also so much fun on set. He always delivers slam-dunk performances. He had amazing chemistry with Tim (in ‘Nut-Crusted’), and his banter is fun.”
Like Cruz (who directed Cake Shop), this is not the first time Rush has taken viewers into the kitchen. His two Bred and Breakfast films—The Come Inn and All the Way Inn— included episodes in kitchens and around food, the latter including a very creative use of a big wooden spoon. Heart pushes the envelope—and the ass—with an apple and a churro.
“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach—just not always via the same route, if you will,” says Rush. “In all seriousness, there is accuracy to the premise of this film. Food is frequently connected to feelings and emotions, often with love. When our grandparents and parents love us, what do they do? They feed us. Tie that to the elements of various foods that are said to generate specific physiological responses—blood flow to the penis and elevated sex drives, among others—and there you have the answer and the perfect recipe for a porn film.”
And speaking of the recipes in the film, they are backed by sex science. We get cherries and chocolate of course, but pistachios, asparagus, salmon and (who knew?) okra also take a turn in the spotlight.
“When I commit to a project, I go deep in,” says Rush. “I researched recipes and ingredients online, in cookbooks, and through conversations with a couple of friends who are professional chefs. All the meals you see in The Way to a Man’s Heart are legitimate and unique—and taste-tested. For the record, okra is rumored to stimulate the libido, and who am I to argue with this kind of whimsical stuff? There was an oyster dish that I decided to cut. For many reasons. I’m sure you can think of them.”
And forget peaches…The Way to a Man’s Heart proves that apples kick (or at least sweeten) ass.
“The apple, which Brogan puts inside Tim’s ass before taking a bite, represents a few things. First, the red coloring, which is a running thread throughout the movie. Second, the forbidden nature of the moment. And third, a way for Brogan to decide whether the rumors are true—that gingers taste sweeter—before smashing his full face into Tim’s asshole,” says Rush. “I love the idea of sexualizing everyday items and foods. When you can see ordinary things as a potential source of pleasure, doesn’t that make the day more exciting?”
Then there’s that cayenne pepper churro…
“Ian Sterling is not only hot, but let’s face it, a good sport. That said, tell me what could possibly taste better than a deliciously sweet dessert right out of Heath Halo’s perfectly hairy ass? Everyone tried to get a bite of that churro when we yelled, ‘Cut!’” says Rush. “You should’ve seen the cast and crew scramble.”
The project also features Johnny Donovan, Justin Jett, Rocky Unleashed and a delicious looking crumble pie. “There wasn’t one weak link in this cast,” says Rush. “It’s rare that a movie is so charmed, but The Way to a Man’s Heart represents the season of love in many, many ways.”
And the film also serves a great purpose. All proceeds from the its capsule merchandise collection will be donated to the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund.
“The L.A. fires have been a devastating tragedy, one that will hard for many to bounce back from. I was lucky; although the warning radius was close by, the flames never made it to my door. I have many friends who weren’t so fortunate and are just now figuring out how to start rebuilding their lives. The horror of it all is unimaginable,” shares Rush.
“(President/CEO) Tim Valenti’s commitment to helping those in need is one of the many reasons I love Falcon | NakedSword so much. It’s a fantastic company with an amazing legacy, sure, but there’s a beating heart at the center of it. The entire team looks out for each other, and Tim makes sure we pay our uniquely blessed position forward by assisting those who need it most. Donating proceeds from our capsule merch collection is just one way we can help people get back on their feet.”
In the meantime, Rush is already planning his next trip to the kitchen.
“I’m cooking up all kinds of things for 2025. It’s going to be a delicious, cream-filled new year at Falcon | NakedSword, one that will likely find us at an all-new Bred & Breakfast. Prepare to be well-serviced.”
Photography courtesy of Raging Stallion Studios
