Show your affection on Valentine's Day with these heart-shaped foods

Valentine’s Day is only a few days away and if you’re looking to get more than just chocolates and flowers for your loved one, why not order a heart-shaped food? Sure, it doesn’t taste any different, but it’s a romantic gesture that’s both cute and delicious. So celebrate Valentine’s Day this year with everything from pizza and ravioli to grilled cheese—all in the shape of a heart. Make sure to check each restaurant’s website for ordering info and deadlines as some offerings will sell out.

Pizza

There are very few, if any, foods more beloved than pizza, so it’s no surprise that many local pizzerias will be offering pies in the shape of a heart. Whether it’s deep dish, tavern-style or Neapolitan-style, you can show your affection with cheesy goodness from one of the following spots.

• Ranalli’s

• Home Run Inn

• Dimo’s

• Lou Malnati’s

• Giordano’s

• Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company

• Lottie’s

• Eataly

• Chicago’s Pizza

Donuts

Sweep your valentine off their feet with a box of doughnuts. Stan’s Donuts is offering heart-shaped gift boxes filled with 12 mini donuts–six birthday cake and six chocolate dipped—for preorder and pickup at all locations on February 13 and 14. If you can’t make it to a shop, they’ll also be available for shipping via Goldbelly.

Lakeview’s immersive, comic-inspired cafe 2d Restaurant will delight customers with heart-shaped boxes of its signature mochi donuts. You can also sign up for a mochi donut workshop on February 12 and learn how to make five distinct styles, plus receive a box to take home. Tickets for the event are available via Tock.

Sweet treats

Chocolates are always nice but if you’re looking to mix things up this year, hit up these Chicago bakeries and cafes for a variety of delectable goodies. Good Ambler is selling raspberry white chocolate heart lollipops, heart-shaped Paris-Brest, heart-shaped chocolate layer cakes and more from February 9-11 and Valentine’s Day.

Both Sweet Mandy B’s locations, in Lincoln Park and Streeterville, are creating festive items for the holiday, including chocolate ganache hearts and heart-shaped cut-out cookies. Goddess and Grocer will feature dark cherry mascarpone and blackberry white chocolate tarts in the shape of hearts. 

For an indulgent dessert, Italian trattoria Olio e Più is offering the Amore Mio—caramelized pastry puff with vanilla Malagasy crème légère, fresh raspberries and raspberry gel, served with pistachio ice cream—on Valentine's Day.

Ravioli

Iconic Chicago steakhouse Gene & Georgetti is perhaps best known for its wet-aged beef, but don’t overlook the irresistible Italian specialties. For Valentine’s Day, the restaurant will feature heart-shaped, ricotta-filled Ravioli Valentino with bottarga and lobster sauce. The dish is available a la carte for $37.

Grilled Cheese

Share an over-the-top shake and a heart-shaped grilled cheese with your valentine at JoJo’s ShakeBAR. The limited-edition sandwich, served alongside roasted tomato bisque, is available exclusively on weekdays for $12 through February 29.