People who have the means and leisure to travel at whim often do so in pursuit of a passion. Some follow the sun, others follow food, music, art, or sports. Romantics follow their hearts.
Me, I would follow flowers.
At the top of my itinerary would be Japan in March. There you would find me, in a cherry blossom-induced delirium, standing like Julie Andrews on top of that mountain-- eyes up, arms outstretched; twirling like a dervish--reveling in a blizzard of cherry-pink petals.
The Japanese are serious about cherry blossoms (sakura) and the ancient custom of flower-viewing (hanami). The cherry-blooming forecasts (sakura zensen) are watched fervently and the occasion is observed with reverence and enthusiasm.
Cherries belong to the plant genus Prunus, and are a member of the large family Rosaceae, which includes other aromatic fruits such as almonds, peaches, plums, apricots, apples, pears, quince, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, loquats, and roses.
The flavor of cherries are defined by benzaldehyde (sour cherry, bitter almond) and coumarin (vanilla, sweet grass, hay).
black sesame ganache
cherry yogurt panna cotta
rose-mahleb semifreddo
raspberry meringue
pink peppercorn crisp
sour cherry glass
maraschino almonds
cherry petals
cherry leaf
Download recipe: Sakura
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