Nostalgic Violet + Green Fairy Treats

Violet is probably my favorite flower flavor. During my last trip to Paris I stumbled upon the most amazing and beautiful supermarket. The name escapes me but it wasn't too far from the Eiffel Tower and there was a large department store next door. (If that rings a bell for anyone.) Anyway, it was so very French and gourmet and had a large assortment of flower-flavored candy, including some pretty, pastel-y marshmallows. I chose violet, of course. Back home, I tried to find them here (and online) but to no avail.

But here it is! Years later, picked up on a post-brunch walk last weekend. (I bought two: ate one, savoring the other. I'm sure it won't last!) Never did I think I would find them here in the states.

The Soubeyran website has an online shop now although it's not clear to me if this is for retail customers and whether or not they ship to the U.S. They have an assortment pack (that includes violet) or you can buy a box of orange blossom! (Which I'll have to try next time.)

Leone, an Italian confectionery company, creates little pastilles that you might find at your local gourmet market or coffee shop. I've blogged about the violet before. Recently I spotted this one, Absinth(e), with a lovely Art Nouveau design. I haven't tried it yet..the packing is too pretty to tear.

Oh, and apparently they come in orange blossom too!

Orange Blossom Cream Ale

» Buffalo Bill Brewery brings to you this Orange Blossom Cream Ale. When I saw this at Ralph's (So Cal Supermarket chain) I could not resist, of course. And I don't even like beer. (With the exception of Ethiopia's Hakim Stout - the best brew I've ever had.)

It's actually not bad, even refreshing. It's hard for me to detect the orange blossom, though I can certainly taste the orange peel. It's sort of like a lite beer with and orange cream soda flavor.

Available at select supermarkets.

Sweet Finds

Yesterday, my DB and I decided to take a break and venture off to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. I've heard many good things about the Market over there.

It truly is a delightful place. One of the first things I came upon is
» Miette, an organic patisserie. Besides, obviously, their lovely cakes and desserts, they have a wonderful collection of cute, Frenchy cakeplates, homemade rose petal jam and candies imported from France.



I bought this box of mints there that contain violet essence. Imported from Provence. (The rose-flavored Turkish Delight is actually from the Berkeley Bowl market, but I threw it in there cuz the mints looked lonely.)



You'll find other foodie items like this lavender salt. I had it over at Nadaly's when she and her hub were grilling up some lamb chops - yum, so good!



Hediard French preserves, orange blossom and jasmine:



Finally, some very pricey imported pastels (rose and violet flavored included in the assortment):

French Flowery Treats

I'm still recovering from jet-lag but as promised, I've brought back many floral-infused treats from my trip to Paris, and I'm here to tell you about about them! I've found so many wonderful things, and it's odd to think flower-flavored foods are so popular overseas but not so much in the U.S. Perhaps this will change!

I didn't, unfortunately, find much in the way of flower liqueurs. Not such a big deal since I don't drink very often. In the Montmartre I did find a little set of rose, violet and orange blossom liqueurs for over 18 euros - I decided against it, as each bottle provided maybe one or two sips! It was the same brand as the rose and orange blossom liqueurs I got there before but the laughably small quantity was quite the turn off.

{Please note: As I am incredibly lazy - and tired today - you will not find the appropriate accent marks on all the French names here.}

At my beloved supermarket, Monoprix, I found most of the products shown.

These flower jams from Albert Menes...

Rose:



and Violet:



You'll find jars of flower confits all over France from various makers such as Fauchon; I choose this brand for its quaint homemade look and affordable price.

Also from Albert Menes...

Mustard with Herbs de Provence:



Ok, what does mustard have to so with flowers? Herbs de Provence is an herbal blend, traditionally made with lavender.

I've blogged about this one before, New Tree's Tranquility Bar with Lavender and Lime Blossom extract:



This bar is still one of my favorites.

Mamie Nova's Violet yogurt:



This is a new flavor and was hard to find. It's very creamy and mild, not very yogurty at all. (French yogurt tends to be less sour than American yogurt anyway, but this was especially mild and rich.) She also makes a Rhubarb Rose flavor, which I did not try.

Recettes & Sensations' Raspberry Violet yogurt:



The sweet violet flavor went quite well with the raspberries in this mildly tangy yogurt.

They make a Litchi Rose flavor, also good:



Lorina's Violet-flavored Mineral Water (with gas):

You may recognize the label - their French lemonades can be found at World Market and other gourmet shops in the U.S.

At La Grande Epicerie (part of Le Bon Marche on Rue de Sevres), I found:

Violet marshmallows from » Arnaud Soubeyran. {Sorry, no pic, I ate it before I had the chance to photograph it! Yum.}

Leone's Violet Pastilles (another item I've blogged about before) in its pretty vintage wrapping:

Dessert Innovations: little cookies, similar to macaroons (no filling) in rose and violet.

This market (as well as many tourist shops and grocery stores) also had a large assortment of flowery hard candies like violet and red poppy. I'm not a big fan of hard candies so I didn't get any this time.

I was shocked to discover Flavigny has recently changed their packaging. The new illustrations I don't even see on their website, » www.anisdeflavigny.com, which is just as well as I do not care for these new tins. Some things should never change, you know?

I came across many varieties of flower-flavored syrups like rose, jasmine, violet and red poppy in grocery stores, tourist shops and even Durance (soaps and perfumes from Provence), over near the Place de la Madeleine. But with all the new liquid restrictions, I thought it best I limit my goods. Besides, I can just order some Monin syrup at home. (See links, right.)

Les Ruchers du Roy make an abundance of different honeys from a myriad of flowers including this one of lavender:



» Fouquet, an old candy shop since 1852, makes confits and candied petals. This little jar of candied lilacs is terribly exciting!:



Miss Judy introduced me to » Laduree,when we were in Paris a couple of years ago. This window display is from their Bonaparte (Rive Gauche) location:

The Saint-Honore Cake in Raspberry-Rose. This delicious cake is pastry, rose cream, raspberry and pink chantilly (whipped cream):

Don't they have the loviest packaging?



The macaroons are so good too. Here's Cassis (Currant)-Violet with a fruit filling, Orange Blossom with a gel filling and (my favorite) Rose with a cream filling:



There are two other cakes, » "religieuse," one rose and one cassis-violet. Perhaps they are named that because they look like little churches? I didn't try these. Next time.

Trivia: As I recall, Laduree was featured as a charming backdrop in the final episodes of Sex and the City.

And finally, there's » Au Nom de la Rose. I stumbled upon this shop in the Latin Quarter. Rather, my nose did the stumbling, for the rose fragrance led me to its doors. Rose bouquets and gourmet sweets like white chocolate with candied rose petals.



The lady recommended the drops. Upon initial inspection, I thought they are gummy but alas, hard candy. Still good, very intense rose flavor. I think I will use them to make a version of rose candy ice cream - similar to one of my favorites, peppermint stick ice cream, but with rose candy instead.



Ok, perhaps some violet jam, butter, bread and a spot of tea for breakfast. Bon appetit!

Provencal Charm AND Candy...Re-visiting Flavigny

On my last trip to France (the source for flower-flavored goodies), Judy and I took a little trip to Flavigny, in Burgundy. For anyone who hasn't been to this village, you may know of it as the location for the film Chocolat. But it may be most famous for it's production of little anise-centered pastilles. The above is L'abbaye de Flavigny, where the candies are made. You can check out their site at http://www.anisdeflavigny.com/index.php. Unfortunately for us, the abbey was closed by the time we got there. :(

Here's a sleepy village petit chat I caught with my camera mid-yawn:



Not to worry if you have no immediate plans to visit France. These treats are pretty popular here in the U.S. You can even find them at World Market for around $2 or so. They come in a variety of flavors including rose, violet, jasmine and orange blossom (the last two are a bit harder to find - try the web). Not to mention, the sweet little old-fashion tins that they come in. I've kept a couple to store safety pins and such.

And speaking of my last trip to France, there's an ice cream (gelato) shop you must visit the next time you're in Nice. I believe the name of the shop is Finocchio, in Vieux Nice. The first time I went there I was with my friend Natalie and her family and we were treated to a wonderful floral sundae: rose, lavender, violet and jasmine gelato topped with chantilly (whipped cream) and candies violets!!

Last time, because it was so insanely hot - and I just can't pass up good gelato - I treated myself to a huge cone of lavender, violet and jasmine.



AND speaking of flower-flavored gelatos, the good people at Whole Foods have taken to my little anonymous notes requesting flower ice creams. (and probably with the help of other floral-philes) Just recently I had the pleasure to taste the lavender chocolate gelato and rosewater jasmine sorbeto. Yum.

Floral-flavored Recipes from MS's Living

Welcome to Flower Foods where we'll be posting recipes, resources and more about edible flowers.

Just this month I received my May 2006 issue of Living. Inside, there are at least three beautiful and faery-like dessert recipes featuring violets, rose and orange blossoms.

http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel3580088

Have a look!