Violas are stunningly beautiful blooms that come in a wide range of hues and contrasting combinations—ranging from the intense colors of black raspberry violas to the bright beauty of lemon meringue blooms. They provide the delicate, honey-vegetal flavors of Necco wafers, adding lovely layers of eye-catching colors and delightful crunch to plates and glasses alike. Here, Chef Jamie Simpson demonstrates three simple ways to use them to please your guests.
At the Bar: Blackberry and Viola Mojito
Make your magical mojito—and then add just the right amount of viola oil from dried flowers. This will give your drink an extra special touch.
Fine Dining: Fresh Violas
Imagine the flavor of a unique vinaigrette made with our house strawberry vinegar. We’ve been dreaming of this moment for years—and now it’s finally here.
Country Club Dining: Funfetti Cake
This funfetti cake is studded—not with sugar sprinkles but with incredible violas from The Chef’s Garden.
More About Violas
To experiment with the range of edible violas, you can enjoy seemingly endless amounts of choice, including:
Banana cream viola: blooms range from pale and creamy to vibrant yellow
Blackberry sorbet viola: so deeply purple that they almost appear to be black
Blackberry swirl viola: ranging from pale to dark, this bloom features stunning purple with touches of gold
Blue raspberry sorbet viola: comes in rich shades of purple
Blueberry cheesecake viola: gorgeous shades of purple turn white with a golden center
Blueberry cream viola: delicate cream beauties with intense purple and gold centers
Blueberry lemon sorbet viola: intense contrasts between purple and yellow with gold in the middle
Blueberry swirl viola: another study in stunning contrasts; this time, it’s in purple and white
Burnt honey sorbet viola: golden hues blend with luscious brown hues
Lemon meringue viola: amazing shades of yellow with touches of vivid purple
Mixed viola: get the best of the day’s harvest with this brilliant rainbow of blooms
Orange marmalade viola: eye-popping shades of orange in beautiful variations of hue
Plum sorbet viola: crowning touches of beauty in lovely shades of purple
Pomegranate viola: appreciate rich purple and vibrant yellow hues
Red raspberry sorbet viola: lovely swirls of purple with a yellow and white center
Red raspberry swirl viola: multiple shades of purple with a contrasting white and then golden center
Rhubarb lemon viola: vivid yellow and gold centers surrounded by rich purple shades
Not sure which one (or more) is best? Contact your product specialist at 419.433.4947 for guidance.
We hope you enjoyed this installment of plating food techniques!