The City Sweet Tooth

Now is the time when the cherry blossoms are at their peak, celebrated in Japan as the Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival). You can celebrate it here in NYC May 2nd and 3rd at Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s Sakura Matsuri (where I will be appearing and signing books)! You can also celebrate with special sweets at these awesome places!

Kyotofu has some cool specials including Sakura Miso Choko Brownies (topped with Japanese Cherry Blossoms)! So good!

They also have these Cherry Blossom Shortbread Tea Cookies, and a special Cherry Blossom Gift Assortment. Plus they’re serving Cherry Blossom Bellinis (made with Ohyama Nigori Sake, White Peach, Champagne, and Cherry Blossom Petals)!

Check out these lovely Financiers! Sigh!

Luxee has this amazing Sakura parfait!

Also, the very traditional Japanese wagashi shop Minamoto Kitchoan has Sakura Daifuku and Sakuramochi pictured above, and the Sakuranbo, a yummy cherry jelly, pictured at the top of this post.

Update: I was just informed of Sakura Matsuri activities at The Maritime Hotel’s Matsuri restaurant too! Details here:

“Chef Tadashi Ono pays homage to this rite of spring with a Cherry Blossom menu of specialty cocktails like the Sakura, an elixir of cherry blossoms and leaves and menu items such as pink snapper steamed with cherry blossom and sake.
Matsuri’s Cherry Blossom menu will be running through May 10th at The Maritime Hotel. The menu features two specialty cocktails, the Sakura—a flavorful elixir made with cherry blossoms and leaves and the Hanami— silver needle sparkling Jasmine Tea with Chambord® and special dishes include pink snapper sushi; a main course of madai (sea bream); and for dessert, a sakura panna cotta.”