5. Coconut pancakes with lavender maple syrup at Matador Room
The coconut pancakes ($16) on Matador Room’s brunch menu are delightfully thick and fluffy, but what really makes this breakfast dish special is the floral syrup. The lavender’s presence is evident without becoming too assertive and complements the dark, oaky notes of the maple. Atop a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar, grapefruit segments cut the sweetness with a dose of bright acidity. More important, though, they’re the redeeming quality that makes this decadent dish acceptable for the first meal of the day. It’s just like eating fruit for brunch, right?
4. Zucchini blossoms at Le Zoo
The popular preparation of this flower – stuffed and deep-fried in tempura batter – has been done many times before. Yet as with most culinary ventures, Stephen Starr does it better. The humble handful of blossoms comes at a steep $18, but Le Zoo's version of the beloved appetizer is
3. Tres leches with roselle sorbet at Vagabond
Beauty goes beyond the surface in Vagabond’s roselle sorbet. Think of roselle as hibiscus’s bolder, tangier counterpart. It’s no surprise Vagabond has embraced floral ingredients, which fit right in with the rest of the whimsical yet approachable menu. Served with a traditional tres leches cake ($10), the sorbet has an extraordinarily vibrant hue with a unique taste to match. The spoonful of bright-red sorbet is as visually striking as it is flavorful, imparting a sweet-and-sour flavor that balances the cake’s richness.
2. Gazpacho at Bachour Bakery + Bistro
Bachour Bakery + Bistro excels when it comes to aesthetics, and the creamy gazpacho ($9) is a prime example of the menu's stunning dishes. The soup's vibrant surface serves as a canvas for crumbled croutons and olive oil two ways: in powder form and as a swirled drizzle. But the star of the soup is the touch of tropical flowers. This medley of floral garnishes includes Jamaican mint, which is local to Miami and harvested in Homestead. For the gazpacho, Bachour Bakery + Bistro
1. Persian
Just barely a year old,