Wellness

FLOWERS NOURISH BODY & SOUL

Courtesy of Mimi Thorisson. Bellflower Ice Cubes.

Eating flowers is actually good for you, body, mind, and soul. New studies show just some of the reasons why. We explain, offer extraordinary places to indulge, and a simple no-fuss amazing floral dish you can toss together yourself in no time. Check them out below.

A new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), found that edible flowers, commonly eaten in China, are rich in phenolics and are excellent antioxidants.

They have been correlated with anti-inflammatory activity and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

Extracts from these flowers could some day be used as an additive in food to prevent chronic disease and food oxidization.

You can read the abstract online of the study, "Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacities of 10 Common Edible Flowers from China," published recently in the Journal of Food Science by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

If you want some beautiful floral feasting experiences, all in one shot, check out the extraordinary creations that a few of Chicago’s most innovative chefs are conjuring. Dining Chicago suggested these:

moto: Executive chef Richie Farina, crafted a gorgeous edible fallen log. Kind of like a springtime yule log thing, with fertile soil, moss, and, of course, wild flowers.

Cellar Door Provisions: Edible flowers delights include magnolia blossom croissants, tartines with pork shoulder and cilantro flowers, and trout with daylilies.

Japonais by Morimoto: Edible orchid flowers are featured throughout the Japanese menus as part of sashimi, whitefish and live octopus carpaccio, toro tartare, hamachi tartare, and all the raw bar dishes.

Edible seasonal micro flower blends, including blueberry cream viola, passion fruit cream viola, flowering herbs, Johnny jump ups, and Egyptian star flowers, accent Morimoto’s cheesecake. Morimoto also recently made this sushi birthday cake for his staff.

Paramount Events: Borage blossoms, marigolds, basil blossoms, citrusy coriander blossoms and bachelors buttons garnish and infuse both creative cocktails and bites.

theWit: Check out the floral cocktails on deck at ROOF and State and Lake Chicago Tavern. ROOF’s Red Moon Rising cocktail marries Plymouth gin, lemon juice, plum bitters, Jordan Cabernet, and edible sun daisies.

Downstairs at State and Lake, the A Walk in the Park cocktail swirls Absolut Vanilla, Absolut Craft Smokey Tea, vanilla, organic matcha green tea powder, almond milk, with edible firestick flowers.

The Langham: Tiffin Tea at The Langham Chicago will tickle you with rock shrimp rillettes with micro orchids, chicken salad with celery flowers, and violet noir eclairs with crystallized violet petals.

For an absolutely earth-shattering recipe, check out Marleybone Journal food writer Sybil Kapoor’s Chocolate Violet Eclairs. See photo above.

Revolution Brewery: Check out their seasonal summer ale, Rosa, steeped with dried hibiscus flowers.

L2O: Edible flower dishes play with floral micro balls, wrapped in avocado with a side of grilled tomato water. Check out chef Matthew Kirkley's signature chopped ahi tuna tartare shaped into a ball, wrapped in shaved avocado, and finished with Osetra caviar, basil emulsion, and violas.

LUXBAR: We love the LUXBAR Violet cocktail, served in a Collins glass with hoshizaki ice, a violette float, and edible pansies, embellishing gin, Creme de Violette, lemon, and soda.

We love the Bitter Truth’s Violet Cocktail, made with violet sorbet and champagne. Get the recipe here.

BOKA is an edible flower fanatic. The pastry chef Genie Kwon has a stunning offering with pansies in a coffee cremeux dessert with hazelnut, whiskey foam, and milk ice cream.

EDIBLE FLOWER SALAD WITH ROSE PETALS, CHIVE FLOWERS, AND LIGHT VINAIGRETTE

And, if you don’t want to fuss, you can tuck into a pile of flowers, toss together with some leaves, and call it a salad. Here’s a bright beautiful Edible Flower Salad with Rose Petals, Chive Flowers and a Light Vinaigrette, by Rachel Dickens.

Edible Flower Salad with Rose Petals, Chive Flowers and a Light Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups chopped kale or baby spinach
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1 carrot grated
petals of 2 organic roses
petals of 2 chive flowers
vinaigrette
2 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 tbsp. honey
1/4 cup olive oil
sea salt
ground pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Combine salad ingredients in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix together the white wine vinegar and honey. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Dress the salad with the vinaigrette.

Serves: 6

Check out this simple video from Apartment Therapy: Edible Flower Ice Cubes for Summer Cocktails. Ben Gould shows you how from garden-to-cocktail.

And, for a gorgeous selection of edible flowers, including micro-flowers, check out Fresh Origins.

Enter your own images and ideas about Beautiful Flowers in this week’s creative Photo Competition. Open for entries now until 11:59 p.m. PT on 07.13.14. If you are reading this after that date, check out the current BN Creative Competition, and enter!

PHOTO CREDITS:

Photo: Courtesy of Mimi Thorisson. Bellflower Ice Cubes.
Photo: Courtesy of Curious Forks. Asparagus with Flowers and Orange Vinaigrette.
Photo: by Kellie Anderson. Edible Flowers.
Photo: by James Gaither. Paeonia suffruticosa, one of the flowers studied for antioxidant properties.
Photo: Courtesy of Dining Chicago. Edible fallen log from Moto.
Photo: Courtesy of Cellar Door Provisions. Quince Blossom Croissant.
Photo: Courtesy of Masaharu Morimoto. Japonais by Morimoto sushi.
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Events. Cucumber Gin Fizz.
Photo: Courtesy of State and Lake Chicago Tavern. A Walk in the Park.
Photo: Courtesy of Marylebone Journal. Sybil Kapoor’s Chocolate Violet Eclairs.
Photo: Courtesy of L2O. Ahi Tuna Tartare.
Photo: Courtesy of Bitter Truth. Bitter Truth’s Violet Cocktail.
Photo: Courtesy of The Conscious Dietitian. Edible Flower Salad.
Photo: Courtesy of El Viandon. Flower Assortment.
Photo: Courtesy of Garden School Foundation. Crystallized Flowers.