LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Want to heat things up this Valentine's Day? A meal from KFC and some quality time on the couch might be all you need. A recent "Valentine's Dining and Dating Poll" of more than 300,000 men and women conducted by KFC and leading online relationship service PerfectMatch.com revealed that comfort, not crystal, is key. Six out of every 10 survey respondents ranked a quiet night at home enjoying good (and simple) food over a glamorous night out at a fancy restaurant as their ideal Valentine's Day date.

To the Heart Through the Stomach

Despite the proliferation of "prix fixe" champagne and caviar Valentine's Day dinners at fancy restaurants, KFC Original Recipe(R) chicken might be the real bull's-eye for Cupid's arrow. More than 66 percent of respondents opted for the crispy chicken as an aphrodisiac they might actually like to eat, compared to oysters and other allegedly romantic fare. Also, more than 72 percent of respondents would select a comfort food eater if they could choose their Valentine's date based off of what type of food they ordered.

Love Me, Love My Dinner

"At the core of making your perfect match is finding someone with similar interests, styles and values," said Dr. Pepper Schwartz, PerfectMatch.com relationship expert and author of Finding Your Perfect Match. "To put love on the menu, look for someone that shares your tastes, passions and spice for life."

Heartfelt Findings -- More than 70 percent of survey respondents said that Valentine's Day is all about spending time with the one they love. -- Both parties have the right to choose -- results split 54 percent male to 46 percent female as to who picked the restaurant on the most recent dinner date. However, some traditions still hold true, as close to 80 percent of those surveyed reported that the male should pick up the bill on the first dinner date. -- And, comfort food, like mom used to make, was the leading selection -- 63 percent -- for the type of food that makes people the happiest.

"We've always known that the number one way into someone's heart is through their stomach," said Scott Bergren, executive vice president of marketing for KFC. "And what better way to pave that pathway than with some good, old fashioned comfort food like Kentucky Fried Chicken this Cupid's Day?"

Finding True Love

With some sage advice and a positive attitude, you can be on your way to finding true love this year. Here are a few words of wisdom from Dr. Schwartz:

-- You know who you are, so be authentic when searching for your ideal date. If you're laid back and casual, don't cruise gallery openings and cocktail parties when you'd rather enjoy a relaxed night with your date. -- If you're ready for a serious relationship, take a serious approach. Take the time to think about what you are looking for and how that complements your personality. Resources like PerfectMatch.com are out there too, if you need guidance. -- Compatibility is key. Think about not only your personality characteristics but your lifestyle, schedule, and day-to-day commitments as well. Survey Methodology

PerfectMatch.com's 3 million members, as well as visitors to KFC.com, were invited to participate in a 10 question, multiple choice survey posted on PerfectMatch.com February 1-4, 2006. The poll generated 328,241 total responses.

About KFC

KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe(R), Extra Crispy(TM) and Colonel's Crispy Strips(R) with home-style sides, Honey BBQ Wings, and freshly made chicken sandwiches. Since its founding by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1952, KFC has been serving customers delicious, already-prepared complete family meals at affordable prices. There are more than 13,000 KFC outlets in more than 80 countries and territories around the world serving some eight million customers each day. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. .

About PerfectMatch.com(TM)

Leading the online relationship service industry, PerfectMatch.com ( http://www.perfectmatch.com/ ) was founded by the team who pioneered online dating. PerfectMatch.com, with three million members, is for adults looking for lasting, meaningful relationships. It is the only relationship service to offer the Duet(R) Total Compatibility System (Duet(R)), co-developed by internationally renowned relationship authority, Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D. Based on 30+ years of research, the revolutionary Duet(R) analyzes each member's Personality, Values and Ideals, Life and Lovestyle(TM) and Preferences to identify and find just the right person for them.

About Pepper Schwartz, PhD.

A leading relationship expert, Dr. Schwartz holds the distinction of being the only relationship expert on the Internet who is a published authority, as well as a tenured professor at the University of Washington. A sought-after speaker, nationally and internationally, Dr. Schwartz regularly lectures on topics ranging from communication between men and women in intimate and work relationships, to maintaining personal and family well-being in today's world. In August 2005, she received the national award for the Public Understanding of Sociology by the American Sociological Association.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

CONTACT: Laurie Schalow of KFC Corporation, +1-502-874-8100, or
Laurie.Schalow@kfc.com ; or Alev de Costa for KFC Corporation,
+1-312-988-2455, or adecosta@webershandwick.com

Web site: http://www.kfc.com/
http://www.perfectmatch.com/