Hi Val,
Well I had it on good authority from my French friend Rosy that these were 'a must' in Spring! So we went out gathering armfuls of the dark shoots. I was shown how to cook them ' dans une omelette', ou 'dans une sauce vinaigrette' ou même ' gratineés'. I have tried all three methods and can honestly say they are so bitter they must be surely good for you! So add them to your now seven-a-day veggie requirement and you'll be guaranteed good health! But beware; ingestion can result in foul smelling urine so stand well downwind!
The French are, by nature, hunter gatherers and collect all sortsof delicious wild things from the woods and fields like cèpes, truffles, champignons, mûres, châtaignes, paquerettes - to name but a few! But responchons, or wild asparagus, are an acquired taste necessitated by the need for iron and vitamins during the French Revolution and before! Why else would anyone eat them?
They even have a Fête des Responchons at Cordes on Sunday 13th April! Don't forget to go!
Bon appetit!
Ann Heeley
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