Grand Floral Fruit Bouquet from FruitFlowers

Item Purchased: Grand Floral Fruit Bouquet from FruitFlowers
Location Purchased: FruitFlowers / 2148 N. Damen Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $70.00 + tax

Review: I'm not good at the whole anniversary gift thing... Primarily because I have never been in a relationship for a full year up until today (blistering shyness and previous attraction to unhealthy drama may be a few of the reasons for that). My girlfriend is not really the flower type. Me? I've got a bit of that traditional romantic in me. She likes fruit, so this seemed like the perfect gift.

FruitFlowers, which recently opened here in Chicago specializes in the unique creation of flower bouquets that you can eat... Because they are made out of fresh fruit. The craftsmanship that goes into their arrangements, using melons, strawberries, grapes, pineapple and kiwi, is such an amazing oddity that one almost doesn't want to eat the fruit at all. Of course, someone always breaks down and opens the flood gates. Soon, you find yourself un-skewering an assortment of fancy cut sweetness as if you were gardening with your appetite.

FruitFlowers started as a project between two women in their New Jersey Kitchens, making and selling these edible arrangements as party centerpieces. Soon, this healthy and more experience-based alternative to sending regular old wilting flowers caught on and the franchising began. These baskets make a perfect gift for people like my girlfriend and I who are more interested in experiencing things together than amassing several gifts during holidays. We were able to admire, stare, then enjoy. Not much later, all that is left of one of these things is the wicker basket. The fruit tastes surprisingly fresh, but I am not sure if the ingredients used are organic or not. It would be an interesting tidbit of information to know. FruitFlowers does have a program with which they honor and recognize community members who dedicate themselves to helping others. It would be interesting to know how deep this sentiment runs through the company.

My only complaint about the product itself is the inclusion of marshmallows inside of every strawberry rose. This would make such a great gift for a vegetarian (as my girlfriend is), but the vegans and super picky veggies out there (luckily my girlfriend is not) won't touch one of these things with a ten foot pole if they see an item with gelatin in it. My girlfriend had a minor problem with the inclusion, but we managed to work around the small fluff (mainly, by me eating the marshmallows.

A FruitFlowerd bouquet makes a great gift, but I can't help but wonder how long this idea can last. I don't imagine it catching on as a cultural standard the way sending flowers has, and giving these baskets on a regular basis might wear itself out quickly. The company has been around since the early eighties, but I wonder what will happen once more areas know about them through franchising?

Rating: 4.25 / 5