7 Meals Made with Edible Flowers

by Natasha Wolff | July 6, 2016 10:00 am

Everywhere we look right now, bright bursts of color are springing up from the ground and blossoming all around us. Not only are these blooming beauties catching our attention on neighborhood strolls, they’re delighting us by showing up on our dinner plates.

Admired throughout the ages for their beauty and fragrance, flowers[1] have also historically been used as objects of romance, ritual, religion, medicine and even as a source of food. These days, restaurants from coast to coast are feeling the sweet spring vibes, making this season’s menus all the more tempting (and delicious). Check out the beautiful dishes sprouting up in some of our favorite cities.

1. BOSTON

With a menu that changes daily, Craigie on Main[2] in Boston never ceases to impress with presentations that almost look too good to eat (almost). A variety of floral colors picked fresh from the garden are sometimes used play up French-inspired plates that highlight local, seasonal and organic ingredients from nearby farms.

Photo provided by Craigie on Main.

2. WASHINGTON D.C.

Casa Luca[3] in Washington D.C. crafts flavor-filled pasta dishes, including ravioli, bucatini and gnocchi. Occasionally adorned with a few colorful petals, these beauties need no flair to be simply delicious.

Photo provided by Casa Luca. Photo by Fabio Trabocchi.

3. SAN FRANCISCO

Prubechu[4] — meaning “you’re welcome” in Chamorro, the native language of Guam — offers ablend of Spanish, Filipino and Asian flavors in its Guam-inspired fare. Sample the bold cuisine full of local California ingredients, like a freshly tossed salad with flower petals and bright greens.

Photo provided by Prubechu.

4. NEW YORK CITY

Modern American bistro Virginia’s[5] in NYC turns out seasonal, market-driven dishes with sweet touches like their Toast of the Day, in this case made with garbanzo bean puree and a vibrant green, house-made ricotta that’s sprinkled with tiny blossoms.

Photo provided by Virginia’s.

5. CHICAGO

Combining flavor-packed bites with lovely presentation, Lula Cafe[6] in Chicago offers dishes like cauliflower served with brown butter hollandaise (a sauce made from egg yolk and liquid butter) and white grapefruit, adorned with bright yellow petals for a burst of color.

Photo provided by Lula Cafe.

6. LOS ANGELES

At A-Frame[7] in LA, fresh Asian and international flavors combine in a variety of colorful, shareable plates. End the meal on a sweet note with a delicious Butter Mochi Cake, lightly salted and topped off with several delicate flowers.

Photo provided A-Frame. Eric Shin

7. PHILADELPHIA

Offering rustic American fare, High Street on Market[8] in Philadelphia dishes out a Squid Ink Boule — a pasta dish with lamb and clam, almond and beautiful red petals of sumac (a subtropical flowering plant that can also be ground into a spice).

Photo provided by High Street on Market. Photo by Jason Varney.