As I’m writing this, despite the best efforts of Third Winter, the cherry blossoms are still in bloom in Jackson Park and at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Japanese Garden. But by the time you read it they might be gone. Such is the transient nature of hanami, the Japanese tradition of soaking in the beauty of springtime blooms, preferably in the company of delicious snacks.
Fong quickly sold out of these and her strawberry-cherry jam filled melon pan, and the matcha milk tea sugar cookies. When I picked up my box, I asked if she’d be doing them the following week. Also, no. The season was over. All beauty must die.
