Every year the opening of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show acts like a starting pistol to London's chefs to race to put all manner of flora and fauna-inspired dishes on their menus. And while it all looks amazing, what we're after is something that sounds as good to eat as it would perform on your Instagram feed. From the many, MANY press releases we got on the subject, here's our pick of the best Chelsea Flower Show dishes you should really get around to trying this week if you can.
Pistachio and Strawberry field
Where: Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, 53 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA
What: Every year you can guarantee the pastry chef at three Michelin starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester will knock one out of the park and this year's Chelsea Flower show menu is no different. The whole thing reads like a dream, but what we really want is this beautiful dish of chocolate crumble, sliced strawberries in jelly, topped off with pistachio-brittle, slices of confit lemon and flower petals. But that's not all, it's then served with a strawberry and hibiscus sauce poured through a lattice of sesame and ground pistachio.
How much: £65 for 3 courses, 2 glasses of wine, 1/2 bottle of mineral water and coffee/tea per person
When? Until Friday 26th May, 12.00pm – 1.30pm
Pull-Apart Flower Cookie
Where: Dominique Ansel Bakery, 17-21 Elizabeth St, Belgravia, London SW1W 9RP
What: Gather a whole bunch of friends or family together to enjoy this particular Chelsea special from the New York baker. It's actually made of more than 20 individual hand-made honey rose tuile “petals," each filled with lychee cream and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar. Pull apart each petal one by one to eat, if you can bear to destroy such beauty.
How much: £25
When: Until 29 May 2017
Pistachio burfi Badam Halwa with viola
Where: Jamavar, 8 Mount St, Mayfair, London W1K 3NF
What: Executive Head Chef Rohit Ghai at this Mayfair restaurant has gone slightly flower crazy, with every dish on a special Chelsea menu covered in edible blooms. This rather rich dessert in particular looks quite beautiful.
How much: £8
When: All this week
Provençal vegetable, tomato and pepper gazpacho
Where: Coq d’Argent, 1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ
What: This fancy starter is the beginning element of the One Part Plant vegan menu at Coq d'Argent. It was conceived of by nutritional adviser Jessica Murnane who wants us all to eat at least one purely plant-based, gluten and soy free, meal a day. And while it may sound a bit worthy, this looks and sounds particularly delicious and, better still,, comes with Melba toast and wild garlic flowers.
How much: Two courses are £29.50 or three for £34.50
When: Until the end of June
Chelsea Flower Show dessert
Where: aqua shard, Level 3, The Shard, 31 Saint Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY
What: inspired by the edible viola flower, the team at aqua shard have come up with a visually spectacular dessert consisting of berriolett (berries and violet) mousse and vanilla brulee with almond sponge, olive oil and violet powder.
How much: £9
When: until Saturday 28 May 2017
Stuffed Courgette Flowers
Where: Sartoria, 20 Savile Row, Mayfair, London W1S 3PR
What: All the focus recently may have been on Francesco Mazzei's new restaurant in Islington, but he is still very much on the ball at his flagship place on Savile Row. As part of D&D London’s #BlossomCity17 campaign he's got this dish of stuffed courgette flowers with baccalà and romano pepper on the menu, which we'd like to stuff in our mouth right now.
How much: £16
When: Until the end of June
