The Scene staff
Edible arrangements can be a tasty substitute for flowers. But is it weird to order one for yourself?
For those who aren’t familiar with edible arrangements, or who have never had the pleasure of devouring one, it’s an assortment of fruit, often covered in chocolate, and served in a vase like flowers.
In 1999, an American entrepreneur named Tariq Farid developed a new business concept for fruit bouquets with his brother, Kamran Farid. They opened the first Edible Arrangements store in Hamden, Connecticut, in 2001.
Their fruit and chocolate concoctions were both beautiful and delicious while also being healthy.
Now I’m a firm believer that sometimes you should just treat yourself, and I’m also all about sweet treats.
After hours of deliberation on whether I should order an edible arrangement, I decided against it. I just couldn’t bring myself to spend the money. I’m cheap.
I decided to make my own arrangement, limiting myself to a $35 budget.
I did some research and compared prices online. You can get a no-frills arrangement for $19, but the cost for anything fancier goes much higher.
For example, EdibleArrangements.com was offering an Easter-themed Delicious Party Dipped Fruit Delight with cantaloupe balls and wedges, grapes, honeydew wedges, semi-sweet chocolate-dipped apple wedges, pineapple daisies and strawberries, plus white and semi-sweet chocolate-dipped bananas.
The regular-size cost $176 plus shipping. The XL banquet size ran $348.
I decided to buy some tools from Amazon to make my own edible arrangement. I ordered fruit cutters and small ceramic vases, which came to about $16. Then I found foam and ribbon at a dollar store for $19.
Because I prefer to shop locally for produce, I visited Roger’s Produce in Webster Groves, a neighborhood store that’s been around since 1978 and is known for carrying homegrown fresh fruits and vegetables.
I also like Roger’s because the store has a homey feel to it.
The wall-to-wall rows of fruit allow a hands-on shopping experience. But like the bigger grocery stores, Roger’s is open year-round.
I picked up a pack of strawberries, some kiwi, a pineapple and cantaloupe, all for under $20.
Before getting started with the building project, I organized all my supplies and tools. In the kitchen, we call this “Mise en place,” a French culinary phrase that means “putting in place.”
Next came washing, cutting and shaping the fruit. Once finished, I gently placed it on a stick and put it in the fridge.
I melted chocolate to the right consistency and eventually started dipping my fruit and put it back in the fridge to harden.
I placed thick packing foam in the bottom of the vase for support. Once the chocolate was set, I began to arrange the fruit “flowers” in the vase.
The last step was adding a cute ribbon, not only to hold the fruit in place but to give the arrangement a decorative look.
I ended up blowing my $35 budget by $20, but it could have been worse, and the edible arrangement only took four hours to build.
Oh well, it was yummy!
Fun facts about fruit
- A strawberry is not an actual berry, but a banana is.
- Pineapples are berries, just like strawberries and blueberries.
- The leaves of raspberry are used fresh or dried as herbal teas to regulate menstrual cycles.
- Bilberries are supposed to help improve nighttime vision.
- You can speed up the ripening of a pineapple by standing it upside down (on the leafy end).
- Sapodilla is a uniquely tasting fruit. It has a soft brown flesh that flavors like a sweet mix of brown sugar and root beer.
- Kiwis were once known as Chinese gooseberries.