Snap then trim asparagus. Save the woody ends for making vegetable stock. M&S have their usual offering from Herefordshire’s Chinn Family: £2.70 for 230g. And Jersey Royals…
tbf to the pricy asparagus, at the beginning of the season it is always much more, but I feel like I still haven't noticed any for sale as yet. You have inspired my lunch thank you. No doubt it will be at least a tenner in Islington (where someone once tried to charge me £12, and I was not too proud to scoff, put it right back on the shelf and march out with my head held high... to Waitrose)
At LEAST that. And right noted on the price front, that makes sense. I honestly could eat it every day. (Although I always remember - quite grimly - the Vogue House loos STINKING at this time of year as it was so full of ladies that lunch, and they'd all go out and have asparagus from the Fenwick cafe or wherever 😳. But I decided that detail was too horrid to include above.)
hahaha - you know I went into TWO supermarkets last night in the hunt for the stuff after this and seeing Diana Henry rhapsodising over it and could I find any bloody British asparagus? No! Only Peruvian stuff. I cannot bring myself to go to the £12 merchants, why are you rolling in it down south??!
I would love tips on how to GROW asparagus. We have had an asparagus patch for about ten years and it only ever produces about three measly spears. Cost per spear in terms of thinking, mulching and faffing = Waitrose x 100.
(I also love that comedy show called Hacks. Hooray - thanks for msg about the new series. Have you also tried Mrs Maisel?) love G x
Someone else on here has just told me it's easy so I do quite fancy giving it a go. Although there are some quite large holes in my garden atm from *someone's* digging, so a bit nervous about planting anything... I imagine even if measly it would be immensely satisfying? And ah no I haven't Mrs Maisel but thank you, will look it up xxx
6.95 for 5 thick stems of asparagus the other day. I always remember it being abundant and cheap when I was a kid as it was the only time of year we ate it, there’s no way we’d have eaten asparagus from Peru. I stick to the even now, but it does make me a bit sad that we have to pay so much for it which probably makes people not buy it which means all those farmers have produce they can’t get rid of. Also, shame on the supermarkets for rejecting wonky veges. Surely we’re over that now? Especially Waitrose customers! Hacks is next on my watch list, it looks great. Dennis looks better behaved than my dog in a boat who barks hysterically at the water and constantly tries to throw himself overboard. Thanks for the writing!
Especially when it was the least wonky veg I've ever seen! And hmm so that's £1.39 a stem which is even worse! I hope it was delicious. And Hacks REALLY is great, and Dennis found his sea legs. I think he liked watching the small fish dart underneath us!
I'm a cutter, if I liked asparagus soup I would probably snap and use the ends for that. The foundation sounds exactly what I'm looking for, thanks for the recommendation. I had some Carmen Miranda salt and pepper pots which I loved, unfortunately they were lost in a move but the queen and corgi is a classic!
Another lovely bit of joy in my inbox! Thank you. Oh and asparagus - snap, always. Dunno why, think someone called Piers advised this in 2005. He went to Eton so I guess he’d know. If you get a chance Tetbury has excellent charity shops btw.
Hooooorah. And ha that's funny on the Piers front. I'm not sure they do necessarily know though. Think they churn out more prime ministers than chefs?!?!?
Gosh, isn’t it v early for asparagus? I like it roasted with balsamic vinegar and parmesan…. You ought to go back to the Norfolk coast in a couple of months and get a big bag of samphire, muddy roots and all. Bootiful!
Norfolk IS wonderful, especially so North Norfolk. I do have to smile at the accents though. I often have to have pauses in my conversations with the locals so I can take the time to reprocess what they have said, rather than asking them to repeat all the time. It is such a pleasure there as you can slow down - the pace of life is quite idyllic. Thank you Sophia for the reminder.
I can't top £7.50 for a bunch but Cranstons at Orton Grange in Cumbria were equalling that a couple of weeks ago. I love Cranstons and have learned not to flinch too much, but I left it on the shelf.
We buy from a very lovely asparagus farm, as I expect other lucky country dwellers are able to do. Very sensibly they operate a ‘first come, first served and ‘when it’s gone it’s gone’ day to day policy. This is a plea that if anyone else’s precious supplier does the same, PLEASE do not phone and berate them for not making you the exception and putting some aside for very special little ole you. Asparagus farmers have feelings!
The chaps at Fallow have just done a great piece on YouTube about cooking asparagus. They recommend cutting it too (I'm a snapper) and also cooked it in a shallow pan with no water. I'm going to give it a try.
if you rummaged in your mother's make-up bag you'd die laughing
Snap then trim asparagus. Save the woody ends for making vegetable stock. M&S have their usual offering from Herefordshire’s Chinn Family: £2.70 for 230g. And Jersey Royals…
I always mean to save them for stock and ALWAYS forget. So must make concerted effort this year, thank you!
Dennis looking v. intrepid! And the salt & pepper shakers are just adorable.
Aren't they? Not that I like powdered pepper much, but I couldn't resist.
tbf to the pricy asparagus, at the beginning of the season it is always much more, but I feel like I still haven't noticed any for sale as yet. You have inspired my lunch thank you. No doubt it will be at least a tenner in Islington (where someone once tried to charge me £12, and I was not too proud to scoff, put it right back on the shelf and march out with my head held high... to Waitrose)
At LEAST that. And right noted on the price front, that makes sense. I honestly could eat it every day. (Although I always remember - quite grimly - the Vogue House loos STINKING at this time of year as it was so full of ladies that lunch, and they'd all go out and have asparagus from the Fenwick cafe or wherever 😳. But I decided that detail was too horrid to include above.)
hahaha - you know I went into TWO supermarkets last night in the hunt for the stuff after this and seeing Diana Henry rhapsodising over it and could I find any bloody British asparagus? No! Only Peruvian stuff. I cannot bring myself to go to the £12 merchants, why are you rolling in it down south??!
Bought from wild country organics at my local farmers market last Sunday; more expensive than conventional but for £4.50 I think, a new season treat.
I would love tips on how to GROW asparagus. We have had an asparagus patch for about ten years and it only ever produces about three measly spears. Cost per spear in terms of thinking, mulching and faffing = Waitrose x 100.
(I also love that comedy show called Hacks. Hooray - thanks for msg about the new series. Have you also tried Mrs Maisel?) love G x
My mum adds dishwasher salt to her patch every winter. Like loads! As it’s meant to be a salty soil.
OOOH ok thank you, useful.
Someone else on here has just told me it's easy so I do quite fancy giving it a go. Although there are some quite large holes in my garden atm from *someone's* digging, so a bit nervous about planting anything... I imagine even if measly it would be immensely satisfying? And ah no I haven't Mrs Maisel but thank you, will look it up xxx
6.95 for 5 thick stems of asparagus the other day. I always remember it being abundant and cheap when I was a kid as it was the only time of year we ate it, there’s no way we’d have eaten asparagus from Peru. I stick to the even now, but it does make me a bit sad that we have to pay so much for it which probably makes people not buy it which means all those farmers have produce they can’t get rid of. Also, shame on the supermarkets for rejecting wonky veges. Surely we’re over that now? Especially Waitrose customers! Hacks is next on my watch list, it looks great. Dennis looks better behaved than my dog in a boat who barks hysterically at the water and constantly tries to throw himself overboard. Thanks for the writing!
Especially when it was the least wonky veg I've ever seen! And hmm so that's £1.39 a stem which is even worse! I hope it was delicious. And Hacks REALLY is great, and Dennis found his sea legs. I think he liked watching the small fish dart underneath us!
£8.99 at Darts Farm shop in Devon. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
COR we have a winner!
Shame on Waitrose; how privileged are we that they feel they need to reject wonky asparagus? Can you imagine the quality control discussions?
I know MADNESS, it was essentially perfect.
I'm a cutter, if I liked asparagus soup I would probably snap and use the ends for that. The foundation sounds exactly what I'm looking for, thanks for the recommendation. I had some Carmen Miranda salt and pepper pots which I loved, unfortunately they were lost in a move but the queen and corgi is a classic!
Give it a whirl, I do think it's fab but def needs a light dusting of powder on top as it is VERY glowy!
Another lovely bit of joy in my inbox! Thank you. Oh and asparagus - snap, always. Dunno why, think someone called Piers advised this in 2005. He went to Eton so I guess he’d know. If you get a chance Tetbury has excellent charity shops btw.
Hooooorah. And ha that's funny on the Piers front. I'm not sure they do necessarily know though. Think they churn out more prime ministers than chefs?!?!?
Snap all the way on the asparagus
NOTED with thanks. You need to take this up with James Martin.
Gosh, isn’t it v early for asparagus? I like it roasted with balsamic vinegar and parmesan…. You ought to go back to the Norfolk coast in a couple of months and get a big bag of samphire, muddy roots and all. Bootiful!
No I think now that we're past St George's Day it's open season? And I LOVE samphire so I would like to do that v much. As would Dennis I think.
Norfolk IS wonderful, especially so North Norfolk. I do have to smile at the accents though. I often have to have pauses in my conversations with the locals so I can take the time to reprocess what they have said, rather than asking them to repeat all the time. It is such a pleasure there as you can slow down - the pace of life is quite idyllic. Thank you Sophia for the reminder.
Go go go. It was BLISSFUL in this weather!
I can't top £7.50 for a bunch but Cranstons at Orton Grange in Cumbria were equalling that a couple of weeks ago. I love Cranstons and have learned not to flinch too much, but I left it on the shelf.
V sensible. More sensible than me.
We buy from a very lovely asparagus farm, as I expect other lucky country dwellers are able to do. Very sensibly they operate a ‘first come, first served and ‘when it’s gone it’s gone’ day to day policy. This is a plea that if anyone else’s precious supplier does the same, PLEASE do not phone and berate them for not making you the exception and putting some aside for very special little ole you. Asparagus farmers have feelings!
JEALOUS!
The chaps at Fallow have just done a great piece on YouTube about cooking asparagus. They recommend cutting it too (I'm a snapper) and also cooked it in a shallow pan with no water. I'm going to give it a try.
OH no water?!? Thank you will give it a watch.