An Edible Celebration of Cherry Blossom Season

One of the most glorious  signs of spring is undoubtedly the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms.  The delicate Japanese trees produce scores of pale pink flowers in early April, which can be viewed in all of New York’s Botanic Gardens, as well as Randall’s Island and both Riverside and Central Parks.  And while cherry blossom season isn’t greeted with quite as much fervor here as in, say, Washington D.C. (where it’s commemorated across the city with festivals, parades, and a number of cultural events), some of our best restaurants are indeed celebrating with a host of fun food and drink specials.  Which means that you should be, too!

Start at the Michelin-starred sushi mecca, 15 East, where accomplished chef Masato Shimizu is offering a Duo of Octopus (Duo Tako), which features both male and female cephalopods that have been slowly poached, and sprinkled with Cherry Blossom Salt.  15 East is also adding a refreshing Cold Soba dish to the menu, served in a bonito broth and garnished with a cherry blossom leaf and flower.  David Bouley is planning a full cherry blossom kaiseki (multi-course) menu at his haute Japanese eatery, Brushstroke, as well.  You’ll find blossoms decorating the tables, as well as used to infuse sake and tea, pickled and salted and turned into soup, and integrated into a rosy “Cherry Blossom” cocktail, a mix of housemade cherry blossom syrup, Kissui vodka, Casoni 1814 bitters and fresh lemon juice.

With a name like Cherry, it’s no surprise that Chelsea’s sexy, new sushi lounge has whipped up a number of dishes to welcome the season.  Start with a sultry cocktail, like “The Bordello,” with Bison Grass vodka, cherry blossom agave, cucumber and lime, or the “Cherry Bomb” with Corralejo tequila, cherry jam, black pepper agave and lemon.  A chilled plate of Foie Gras and Tuna with umeshu cherries and spiced cashews makes a perfect pairing, as does the indulgent Foie and Short rib-stuffed Gyoza with a plum sake glaze and smattering of sour cherries.

The popular Spanish tapas spot, Boqueria, also has branches in Washington D.C, so they’re honoring cherry blossom season at all of their outposts with pitchers of sparkling Cherry Lime Sangria.  The shareable drink features housemade lime cordial, tart cherry juice, and a handful of fresh, macerated cherries, but is also a whole lot more potent than its pretty pink hue would suggest (including generous doses of brandy, rosé wine and fizzy cava as well).  So bring along plenty of friends, order up some market-fresh nibbles alongside, like Grilled Asparagus with Hazelnut Romesco and Manchego Cheese, and really get into the cherry blossom spirit.  And you can’t celebrate cherry blossom season without savoring a few Japanese (wagashi) sweets.    Our favorite go-to is midtown’s Minamoto Kitchoan for uber chewy Sakura Mochi, filled with red bean paste and crowned with a salted Sakura Leaf and preserved flower, or the Sakura Jelly with an edible cherry blossom inside!

15 East
15 E 15th St., btwn S Union Sq and 5th Ave.
(212) 647-0015
15eastrestaurant.com

Brushstroke
30 Hudson St., btwn. Duane and Reade Sts.
(212) 791-3771
davidbouley.com

Cherry
355 W 16th St., btwn. 8th and 9th Aves.
(212) 929-5800
cherrynyc.com

Boqueria
53 W 19th St., btwn. 5th Ave and Avenue Of The Americas
(212) 255-4160
boquerianyc.com

Minamoto
509 Madison Avenue
(212)489-3747
www.kitchoan.com