For the unattached, the most annoying five words in the English language have to be “Why are you still single?” Sometimes the short answer is “Because I have a life,” as these eminently eligible locals prove. As our annual Valentine’s gift to you, we once again set out to identify a bevy of accomplished, interesting, attractive singles, any of whom you’d be proud to take home to Mom and Dad. Digging deep into our networks and tapping readers for suggestions, we picked a crop of corkers, grilled them for info and gathered them for a photo shoot at the romantically lit Red Lantern. Check out behind-the-scenes video here, and read on to meet The Improper Bostonian’s Most Eligible Bachelors and Bachelorettes, Class of 2017. And happy Valentine’s Day!

Falco Rodriguez, 28

Sous-chef at The Smoke Shop

Head start: I started cooking when I was 6 or 7 years old with my mom in her restaurant in the Dominican Republic, and since then, I’ve never really wanted to do anything else with my life.

Out of the kitchen: I go to the gym every day. I love to paint and make sculptures with found objects. I work on my car and other people’s cars, and I read constantly. I also like to play baseball, basketball and football.

Best feature: For some reason, girls really like my eyelashes.

Celebrity crush: Liz Gonzales from Football Fix on CSN. Hi Liz!

Craziest thing he’s done for love: I once moved in with a girl after dating for two weeks. That didn’t turn out so well.

Deal breaker: Materialism. I drive a nice car and have a good job, but those are not the things that define me. If I go on a date with someone and they start asking about the things I may or may not own or how much money I make, I would probably excuse myself to go to the bathroom and not come back.

Proudest moment: My family once lived with me for a year. I was very proud that I was able to do that for them and be someone they could count on.

His idea of romance: I dream of someday taking the woman I love to the Dominican Republic and showing her where I spent part of my childhood and the beaches I love.

Seduction dish: The dish isn’t as important as the process. When I invite a girl over for dinner, I cook everything in front of her and talk to her while I’m cooking. The process is the seduction. The food is just a bonus.

BBQ chefs do it______________­: Slow and low.