Floral Fast Food

We arrived at the Chelsea Flower Show around one o’clock and therefore decided to try out the fast food at Petal Pushers to the right of the main entrance. As we stood in line, we read from the long menu above us, Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms, Lemon Flower Pancakes, Corn Marigold Fritters… We were decided when we got to the counter, and the young cashier looked expectantly to us as he waved away with a practiced hand some bees buzzing over some bloom bits. “I’ll take a Squash Blossom Frittata, a Sage Flower Crepes, Candied Angelica Flowers and a Bud,” I spoke up with trepidation.

“Is that a Bud Beer? A Rose Bud Beer?” he countered, “OK, and for the young lady?”

“Yes, I’d like an order of Fried Pumpkin Flowers, a Lavender Rose Petal Cheesecake, the medium Dandelion Wine and the Mixed Bride Bouquet,” she answered romantically.

“Do you want that bouquet in a pot or cut?” the cashier asked and then turned his head towards the kitchen shouting, “Henri, that’s one curcurbit pepo frittata, a crepes salvia officinalis, candied angelica archangelica, a rosa corymbifera lager, one fried cucurbita moschata, a lavendula x intermedia - rosa villosa cake, a taraxacum officinalis year 96 and a wedding salad in a vase.”

On our way to the outside tables we picked up cutlery including pruners and packets of Sage Flower Pesto, Mustard Flower Sauce and some Crystallized Violets. We sat enjoying our fare, with humming birds whirring around us, and observed the people entering the flower show who were only going to look at the blooms.