Follow your taste for lavender to these area restaurants:
_ Chef Patrice Rames, of Bistro St Tropez (2400 Market St., Marketplace Design Center, 4th floor, 215-569-9269), does a shallot and lavender-crusted halibut, and a pan-seared duck breast with rhubarb and honey lavender fig sauce.
_ Lavender creme brulee has been the most popular dessert at Avril BYOB (134 Bala Ave., Bala Cynwyd, 610-667-2626) since Chef Christian Gatti and his wife, April Lisante, opened the restaurant last August.
_ Chef Steven Waxman, of Trax Restaurant & Cafe (27 W. Butler Pike, Ambler, 215-591-9777), harvests lavender, thyme and rosemary from his restaurant garden for a pan-seared and herb-encrusted rack of lamb.
_ McGillin's Olde Ale House (1310 Drury St., 215-735-5562), uses fresh lavender and lemon juice with citrus vodka to make a Lavender Lemon Drop Martini.
_ Chef Marcie Turney's line of Marcie Blaine Artisanal Chocolates, sold at her store, Verde Flowers & Gifts (108 S. 13th, 215-546-8700), includes a lavender chocolate made with dried lavender from Busy Bee Farm, in Tabernacle, N.J., and lavender honey.
Beat the bees to these Bucks County lavender farms for the fragrant herb and products made from it:
_ Carousel Farm, near New Hope, is a 252-year-old farmstead that's been cultivating organic lavender for about four years. More than 15,000 lavender plants in French and English varieties are grown here. Carousel has a gift shop selling culinary lavender, lavender honey and lavender-lemon cookies, among other things. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. Garden tours are available by appointment June through September. 5966 Mechanicsville Road, Mechanicsville, 917-837-6903, www.carouselfarmlavender.com.
_ Peace Valley Lavender Farm overlooks Peace Valley Park and Lake Galena. The farm has more than 3,000 plants in several varieties of English lavender and lavandins (hybrids). Stop by the gift shop for Peace Valley's bath and body products, organic culinary-grade lavender, lavender-infused honey and herbs de provence. The shop is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 802 New Galena Road, Doylestown, 215-249-8462, www.peacevalleylavender.com.
- Laurie T. Conrad
