Lavender Love: First Watch Cafe’s Floral Culinary Revolution
Move over, ordinary brunch fare; floral cuisine is blossoming! As spring unfolds, restaurants are embracing the trend of edible flowers, and First Watch Cafe is at the forefront with its colorful and captivating lavender-inspired dishes. Chef Shane Schaibly, the culinary maestro behind First Watch’s evolving menu, reveals that lavender is not just a fleeting fad—it’s a staple that sprouted roots back in 2021 with the introduction of their Purple Haze lavender lemonade. This visually stunning drink quickly gained traction, proving that lavender has serious staying power in the culinary world.
The buzz around lavender isn’t merely anecdotal. According to a report by Mintel, 22% of diners are interested in floral flavors, particularly in beverages, highlighting a growing demand for unique, Instagrammable experiences. Following the success of their non-alcoholic lavender lemonade, First Watch took things up a notch by introducing the Spiked Lavender Lemonade, combining floral notes with a spirited twist that has patrons clamoring for a sip.
But wait, there’s more! The Wild Berry Lavender French Toast is another star of First Watch’s spring menu, serving up a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. This dish boasts a vibrant lavender whip made from butterfly pea flower tea, a rising star in both the culinary and mixology worlds. Schaibly notes that the dish is not only delicious but also a visual delight, perfect for social media sharing—a crucial aspect in today’s dining landscape.
First Watch’s commitment to seasonal menu rotations ensures that they keep things fresh, testing over a dozen new dishes daily to cater to evolving tastes. This dedication to innovation has made them a favorite among brunch enthusiasts, with Instagram feeds lighting up with photos of their floral creations.
As lavender takes center stage in culinary offerings, from Starbucks’ seasonal beverages to Meghan Markle’s edible flower features in her Netflix series, it’s clear that this trend is blooming. First Watch Cafe will serve its lavender delights, including the Purple Haze and Wild Berry Lavender French Toast, until May 26, so grab your friends and dive into this Instagrammable brunch adventure while you can!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Mintel, Starbucks, Netflix
Image Credit: Title: Untitled, Author: No author info, License: [‘cc_attribute’, ‘cc_nonderived’, ‘cc_publicdomain’]
