Fiddlehead Ferns
I’ve now gone to two neighborhood farmers’ markets (Ballard and University) and one of the niftiest things about living in the Northwest is that I can actually see the seasonal foods that before now I’ve only ever seen in magazines in the “if you’re lucky enough to see ‘em, buy ‘em” articles. Like fiddlehead ferns. Amazing what food will grow in areas that get rain!
I bought a little pack of fiddlehead ferns at the University market. I’ve never seen these guys in real life before. Nope, not even in the hoity-toity grocery stores had I ever had a chance at grabbing them … and who knows how much they would have cost. Here? I think the little packet cost $2.
I blanched them and sauteed them in a little olive oil with salt and pepper. The tightly curled little vegetable spirals tasted a lot like … forest floor. Kinda woodsy and green, and not at all like asparagus, which is what I think the back of my mind expected them to taste like. A neat experience. I’m looking forward to other local food adventures!
There is a local blog that is called Gluten Free Girl-www.glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com Through her now gluten free eating travels she explores the farmers markets for the freshest seasonal veggies. Her beau is a chef at a local restaurant (www.impromptuwinebar.com) that changes the menu often and emphasizes what veggies and other foods in season. I haven’t yet been there, but the menu looks amazing.
There are some fiddlehead ferns in their natural state not far from my office; they’re on the north side of the Federal Courthouse that’s on 7th & Stewart. While I’m sure the Feds would hate it if they were picked (they’re obviously planted for decor), every time I pass by them I find myself thinking about having a salad.
Speaking of asparagus as you were, we’re currently in the midst of the Washington state asparagus harvest season so I hope you are enjoying fresh local asparagus. It doesn’t get as much press as the apples and the berries, but I think it’s one of our finest crops.
Just another note on the abundance of agriculture this state produces (I grew up in Yakima, WA). When I was a kid it was said that Washington state could support the entire nation for 1 month. Not sure if it’s true or not, but Washington does have an amazing amount of farming and livestock going on. I mean if you think about it you could fill your pantry and fridge with exclusive Washington products and make pretty much anything. We have our own wheat fields, apples, pears, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, asparagus, chicken, pork, cattle, you name it we pretty much have it around somewhere in the state. It’s one of the things that makes me love living here and visting the Eastside of the state. It’s like a whole other world over there.