Eight ways to eat heart in Toronto on Valentine’s Day

Every Valentine’s Day, the Black Hoof offers a special heart-themed menu, and this year is no exception. But the Hoof isn’t the only restaurant in town where you can devour an animal’s ticker. Here, eight heart dishes to try this Hallmark holiday.

Antler

At his game-meat restaurant in Little Portugal, chef Michael Hunter impales charcoal-grilled duck hearts with a skewer—just like Cupid. $7. 1454 Dundas St. W., 647-345-8300, antlerkitchenbar.com  

Bar Buca

Rob Gentile toys with duck hearts, too, but the ones at Bar Buca are crispy-fried and treated with ‘nduja and rosemary ash. $7. 75 Portland St., 416-599-2822, barbuca.ca  

Zakkushi

Cupid strikes again at this Cabbagetown izakaya, but this time the hearts are from chickens, and they come in two varieties: teriyaki and sea salt. $1.80 per skewer. 193 Carlton St., 647-352-9455, zakkushi.com  

Cocktail Bar

Popcorn chicken hearts dipped in caper mayo alongside a high-octane cocktail? So much better than Orville Redenbacher’s and a rom-com. $6. 923 Dundas St. W., 416-792-7511, hoofcocktailbar.com  

The Black Hoof

The first of the Hoof’s four special dishes is the bison-heart carpaccio. It’s served with a salsa verde and fried maitake mushrooms. $14.  

Another of the Hoof’s V-Day dishes is this bowl of confit duck hearts served with smoked fingerling potatoes, black beech mushrooms and leeks. $16.  

The Hoof’s chicken-heart sausage is made with a few other poultry parts (thigh, liver, gizzard), wrapped in chicken skin and served with pickled-and-roasted turnips in a broccoli purée. $15.  

Also: horse-heart tartare. And it’s shaped like a heart. Aw. $14. 928 Dundas St. W., 416-551-8854, theblackhoof.com