The Spirit World

The city of Chicago is wrapped in an arctic blast blanket, but next Wednesday that bone-chilling freeze will melt away when couples head out to dine on gourmet meals and imbibe on the themed cocktails in the Windy City. This year, restaurants here are peeling, pureeing and juicing all kinds of fruits to help spice up the night and crank up the romance barometer. Let’s take a tour of four Chicago hot spots and what they’ll be mixing and pouring on Valentine’s Day.

When you think of Mexican food, tequila is a must have. The Adobo Grill is mixing up two lovey-dovey south-of-the-border concoctions with the Amor ($8.50) made with Don Julio Blanco tequila, papaya juice, strawberry-rose petal sorbet and topped with cava. This tequila is double-distilled, smooth and refined, perfect for mixing; and while papaya juice can tend to be mushy, this version is smooth. Valentine’s Day isn’t complete without a little sparkling wine and rose, so this drink is topped with strawberry-rose petal sorbet and Spanish cava, which pair perfectly. 

The Adobo Grill’s other love potion is the Apasionado ($8.50), which is mixed with Don Julio Reposado tequila, passion fruit juice and Alize Passion Fruit. The tequila is silky smooth with a compelling combination of light cinnamon, honey and herbaceous flavors balanced by a lightly smoky taste and dark chocolate notes—it’s double distilled and aged for just under a year. The drink is intensely flavorful and aromatic—purely intoxicating—and absolutely delicious. Even Cupid would order one! 

Firkin, an American contemporary restaurant, is going to be giving everyone a little encouragement with their French Kiss ($7.75), a martini of Absolut Kurant, Framboise liqueur, pineapple juice and dry champagne; and the Long Kiss Goodnight ($7.50), a blend of Cabernet, Zen Green Tea liqueur, SOHO Lychee and Sprite. Both refreshing, and they definitely will put you in the mood.
 
Sushisamba Rio, a restaurant that serves a combination of Japanese and South American foods, is going to get their patrons dancing with their V-Day cocktail ($11), which is mixed with Kamoizumi Komekome Shu sake, passion fruit puree, Stoli Strasberi Vodka, simple syrup, grenadine, sparkling wine, and garnished with a strawberry.
 
Scoozi!, an Italian mainstay eatery, is mixing its Bella Bellini: Cointreau, Chambord, DeKuyper Peachtree Schnapps, and Bella Vista Franciacorta Cuvee Brut. This concoction is poured into a sugar-rimmed glass and garnished with a chocolate-covered maraschino cherry—yum!