Food, fairy lights, flowers: Curate a Valentine’s Day table for two

It’s Valentine’s Day, a time when the colour red takes on its most enticing avatar, popping up in all its finery in everything around – hearts, flowers, fashion, gifts, trips and more. But nothing rivals the impact of a romantic meal, complete with a thoughtfully curated heart-shaped spread. Says Shivani Sharma, chefpreneur and founder of a gourmet brand, “The presentation of the meal does set the tone — heart-shaped foods feel intentional and thoughtful. It gives the meal a more appealing look and ensures that the occasion is elevated. While taste remains key, a beautifully plated heart-shaped dish enhances romance, making even a simple dinner feel extra special.”

‘Healthier heart-shaped options are in vogue’

While nothing beats the classics when it comes to V-Day fare, the focus on a healthier lifestyle has led chefs to experiment with healthier options for Valentine’s Day. “Creative versions of classics such as heart-shaped pizzas, sushi, and dosas have been in trend recently, but heart-shaped candies, cookies, and cakes will always reign supreme,” says chef Ishijyot Surri, adding, “You can also present a molten lava cake sculpted in the shape of a heart, with two distinct flavours – representing each partner. Also, truffle and cheese or ricotta with beetroot filled heart-shaped raviolis and heart-shaped cocktail ice cubes make for an entertaining idea and lend a romantic touch.”

Adds Shivani, “The classics include heart-shaped chocolates and cookies. But one can go more creative with heart-shaped sushi, ravioli, or even layered desserts. Chefs have been experimenting with heart-shaped vegan cheesecakes, fruit tarts, and artisanal bread infused with beetroot or tomato-infused dough to get a naturally vibrant red colour.”

Chef Nikita Varma shares, “If you’re feeling extra creative, you could combine ideas, like layering heart-shaped pancakes with heart-shaped fruits or using heart-shaped ice cubes in a love-themed drink.”

Key elements of a romantic tablescape

• Good food: Cut cheese into little cubes, strawberries into little hearts by slicing them thick using a knife/ heart-shaped cookie cutter. Cut bread in a heart shape and top with tomatoes for bruschetta. Mini heart-shaped pizzas.
• Good lighting: Candles, fairy lights, dim yellow lighting. Grab tea lights, votives, or even scented candles.
• Fresh flowers.
• Personalised touches like a handwritten menu or poetry on paper, a string of Polaroids, monogrammed napkins.
• Meaningful music: A soft playlist of your favourite songs to enhance mood.
• Pillows and blankets: If dining on the floor or in a cosy corner, add cushions and a throw/carpet.
• Reflect your personalities: Randomly placed books for bibliophiles along with electric candles or fairy lights can serve as an interesting table runner.
• Green leaves from eucalyptus or lemon trees that emit a beautiful natural smell can serve as table runners for nature lovers.
• Meaningful objects to the couple such as tickets from their first trip together, or the first Lego set they built together, etc, can be emotional as well as nostalgic.
• Minimalism with a touch of opulence is trending—muted pastel or deep jewel-toned linens, and delicate floral accents like fresh roses or baby’s breath.
• Balance is key — avoid clutter while ensuring visual harmony

- Inputs by Priyanshi Jariwala, cheeseboard artiste and table decor enthusiast, and Shivani Sharma, chefpreneur and founder of a gourmet brand.

“Talking about your food preferences and sharing a liking for certain foods naturally makes you feel closer to the other person, which makes the entire experience very romantic. The meal you serve or curate doesn’t need to be anything fancy, a simpler meal is always more effective. You can even put together a healthy spread to express how your partner’s health is of utmost importance to you,” says chef Shagun Malhotra.


“This year, there’s a shift towards subtlety— elegant heart-shaped desserts with minimalist designs and natural ingredients. Expect healthier options, like raw cacao truffles, and elevated classics, like heart-shaped mille-feuille. Personalised elements, such as initials on chocolates or layered ombré heart cakes, are also trending,” shares Shivani Sharma, chefpreneur and founder of a gourmet brand.

“Foods that allow the couple to build or customize together can be playful and engaging, like DIY taco bars, or fondue pots (cheese or chocolate). This type of interaction makes the meal feel like a fun activity, which can be an interesting time to spend together,” feels chef Nikita Varma

Planning to cook on V-Day? Here are some easy-to-cook dishes:

Breakfast & snacks:

• Heart-shaped pancakes or parathas: You can create these by either pouring the pancake mixture into a heart-shaped mould or rolling the paratha prior to cooking.

• Heart sandwiches: Cut out pieces of bread, cheese and jam/chocolate spread, using a cookie cutter.

• Heart toast with egg: Cut a piece of bread into the shape of a heart and crack an egg in it while it is toasting.

Desserts & sweets:

• Heart cookies or brownies: Bake and cut into hearts.

• Chocolate-covered strawberries: Dip strawberries in chocolate and let them set.

• Heart jelly or pudding: Set jelly or custard in a heart-shaped mould.

Meals & savoury ideas:

• Heart pizza: Shape pizza dough into a heart before placing toppings of your choice

• Heart ravioli: Pasta dough folded into heart-shaped parcels

• Heart sushi: Sushi rolls shaped as hearts or cut out cucumbers into heart shapes

• Heart-shaped dhokla for a desi touch to your meal

• French toast with strawberries layered with chocolate ganache in the shape of a heart

• Heart-shaped mocktails: Use heart-shaped ice cubes or freeze juice in heart-shaped moulds

- Inputs by chefs Ishijyot Surri and Nikita Varma