Valentine’s Day is upon us. And although we’re not wont to get particularly sappy, the occasion is a perfect excuse to sip on a pretty pink cocktail — with a bit of a kick to it, of course.
Aria Ristorante is known for charming the downtown crowd with its Italian eats. Lofty ceilings and eye-catching light fixtures provide a stunning (but not overly romantic) backdrop while patrons feast upon dishes like Sicilian salad, ravioli ai funghi or osso bucco.
In honour of the year’s most romantic day, Aria’s Kyle Stefanato has put together La Bella Cosa ($12), a blush-coloured concoction determined to melt even the hardest of hearts. Translating into “the beautiful thing,” the beverage is part spicy, part sweet: cinnamon heart-infused Stolichnaya vodka is paired with Aperol, rosewater and a splash of prosecco. Sitting pretty in the centre is a miniature rose enrobed in a sphere of ice.
St. Valentine was Italian, after all.
Aria Ristorante, 25 York St., 416-363-2742
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