Wine Pairing Story (1)

Waiting for us in the woods... This wine pairing story has a lot to do with luck and circumstances . We were recently out for a walk in the Flavigny woods in northern Burgundy . The natural landscaping of the trees and slopes, the green mosses with the alternating glades and thicker woods was making us feel good and relate to the forest . We took a left from the dirt road, onto a narrow path under the trees and noticed these fragile things moving lightly with the air : Wild asparagus . Light delicate green colour . So much thinner than the asparagus on the market . Height : Maybe 50 cm . Excitement . Picking instinct back in our modern lives . Of course we only cut them, and left the roots in place ( we'll be back for more of them ) . Soon we had a nice bunch for our improvised dish . When you look at them, there is some ressemblance with the "regular" asparagus, but not a striking one . The size and proportions are what differ the most . Next day on the menu : Wild asparagus . Preparation and cooking is at the same time very simple and delicate : Cook in boiling water 4 to 6 minutes . Check often so as not to have them overcooked . They are fragile and could come apart ( and loose some of their taste ) . Keep the water ( wich turned light green ) for later use . See here for a wine choice :

Then, dispose them on a plate with a napkin . Sauce was vegetable oil ( Lesieur ISIO 4 ), lemon, little of garlic , salt and pepper . Went great with the tender and delicate things . The wine : We opted for a wine from near there : A white "Vignoble de Flavigny" Auxerrois (grape variety) 2003 , "La Convivialité" cuvée . Served at 12°C . Nose : Citrus, acacia flower . Some lemon side . Nice light golden colour with grey reflections . Not much acidity in this 2003 wine . Fleshy , but not too much . We have some asparagus, then some wine, back and forth and that comes beautifully together . Choosing a wine coming from the same region than the dish must not be an exclusive religion, but here, both paired naturally and smoothly . Bottle price : 6 Euro . Entering the village of Flavigny through one of its medieval doors

Comments

[hikalu]

it was the first time to see wild asparagus. In Japan, there are also some wild plants each season. we deep-fry them. It's TEMPURA. There is another way to cook as well.

[Alder]

I just drooled all over my keyboard. Holy cow those are beautiful plants.

As usual, Bert, you provide me with a vicarious escape from urban existence.

[Angela]

This comment is a bit late in the game but what can I say?
It is noted above that "When you look at them (asparagus), there is some ressemblance with the 'regular' asparagus, but not a striking one. The size and proportions are what differ the most."

As with all regional expressions of biodiversity, there will (and will not be) overlap in certain traits. For "really big" asparagus go to:

http://www.prodigalgardens.info/may%20weblog.htm

-All the best to everyone out there with reverence for all that we have been given - in perfection - by the Creator :)

[Bill Blamire]

In Tarn and garonne where I live the side roads and minor roads are scattered with parked cars as the people from the surrounding departments search for the so called wild asparagus. The plant however is much longer than normal asparagus and finer too, and the leaves are heart shaped. Locals who collect it to eat call it Rampachou although the local spelling seems to change from market to market. Don't boil too long as it becomes bitter, four minutes in boiling water is quite sufficient. I picked about a kilo today and served with a dressing of hot butter lardons and parsley which is the way the locals serve it, but hot butter or hollandaise is just as good. It is seen as a diaretic and post winter plant to give the system a boost for the summer. Locals however insist it is not part of the asparagus family although there is a resemblance. One thing for sure is that as less and less weedkillers and herbisides are used there is more and more of it around.

[Amy]

where can I find wild asparagus seeds?
thanks to anyone who knows and can pass it on to me!