Asparagus On My Mind

Welcome, Spring!

Looking out my window, watching the barely there snow flurry, actually makes me think of spring - in my native Chicago, not Lancaster. Living on the east coast for 15 years, I have come to appreciate what spring is really about. In the midwest, spring exists only on the calendar. In actuality, we went from a blistery winter directly into a blazing hot summer. Here in Pennsylvania, it is truly amazing to see how color comes back into our lives - the flowers peeking out of the ground, the buds on the trees, the grass is really green again, and vegetables and fruits are once again fresh and LOCAL.

All this leads to my "thing" for asparagus. Sure, it's available at the supermarket practically year round. And, to those of us who buy it, it actually tastes okay. But let's be honest ... why put up with okay when you can have locally grown, in season spectacular? Add to the equation that spectacular asparagus is only available for a few short weeks, somewhere between late April/early May to "when it's done." It's one of the first official markers that tells us spring is not only here, it's here to stay. It's for real.

Now you understand why Essen's Asparagus Festival pushes the limit on spring's arrival. If I waited for its actual entry into Lancaster, you might miss the chance to try out new ways to eat it until you're sick of it. Which is one problem I look forward to every spring. Welcome home!