It’s time for meals packed with supposed aphrodisiac powers, death by chocolate, and tea lights galore. Love it or hate it, the Hallmark holiday is upon us. Here, a few of our favorite options.
Our forks are ready for Iozzo’s Garden of Italy’s (946 S. Meridian St., 317-974-1100) blood orange & pear salad and fried Cornish game hen.
Recess (4907 N. College Ave., 317-925-7529) is starting with a heartbreaker of a dish, Jonah crab and fresh rock shrimp with watercress, haricot vert, shaved fennel, and blood orange vinaigrette.
FARMbloomington (108 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, 812-323-0002) is showing some love with a “Ducktrap” Smoked Salmon starter featuring creme fraiche, fennel, and citrus salad.
Chef Ryan Nelson of Late Harvest Kitchen (8605 River Crossing, 317-663-8063) turns up the heat with Turbot, gnocchi, rainbow chard, bone marrow, and shiitake mushrooms.
The large-plate course at The Libertine (38 E. Washington St., 317-631-3333) is all about the drama: Burgundy-braised short ribs with a wild mushroom confit and rosemary-stilton risotto.
The dessert course at R Bistro (888 Massachusetts Ave., 317-423-0312) offers a choice of a red velvet cake with chocolate ganache and cream cheese ice cream or Trader’s Point Creamery Bloomy with macerated apricots and golden raisin toast. Win-win.
Black Market (922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-822-6757) will send off young lovers with whoopie on the mind, vanilla bourbon and three-spice whoopie pie, that is.
FOR THE DOWNRIGHT THIRSTY: Tini (717 N. Massachusetts Ave., 317-384-1313) is serving up red-hued Valentinis and molasses lime cookies.
Pictured: Black Market
