I am not too happy with my pictures today. The color scheme is all over the place. However, I’ve been trying to select them properly for the past few hours and I’m over it now… So please excuse forgive me for my lack of play ethic today :0)
I went to the market on Sunday to get some asparagus and came across bunches of wild asparagus. I had seen them on a book cover a long time ago and had always wanted to try some. I expected them to have very little taste and a texture that could only please a cow… I couldn’t have been more wrong!
I steamed them for about ten minutes on top of the regular asparagus while they were boiling and they turned out to be one of the most delightful vegetable I had ever eaten. And since tomatoes technically are considered fruits, I can honestly say that wild asparagus are now by far my favorite vegetable. Even cooked al dente, they are crunchy under the tooth and then melt away in your mouth. As for their flavor, it is somewhere between the green asparagus, the pink/white asparagus and fresh hazelnuts just picked from the tree. And maybe a touch of Jerusalem artichoke in there too… An absolute delight! I had them with a light red wine vinegar and chives vinaigrette. I had intended to eat my “hard” boiled eggs with them, but could not bring myself to mess with their incredible taste; so I ate them first and then the eggs with some cured ham and thyme flowers.
Do try to find some wild asparagus. I promise you will not be disappointed. I am seldom impressed by new produce (new to me), and there are very few I haven’t yet tried, but I will absolutely remember the day I ate wild asparagus for the first time!
MY FRENCH HEAVEN 
Ha! Not only am I not a foodie, I am not a photographer, because I don’t know what you mean about your colors being all over the place. The photos are wonderful. I love asparagus, I am not even aware of WILD asparagus. Wow!
I have never seen wild Asparagus before. My mouth was thoroughly watering by the time I got to the end of this post!
It’s too bad they won’t be in season in September… Mushrooms on the other hand…
Your photography is always so beautiful 🙂 It pulls readers in and suddenly it’s as if we’re there, roaming the market and adventure with you!
You definitely know how to capture the gloriousness in the little details!
Thank you Gabrielle! You make my day 😉
Stunning pictures! I have never heard of wild asparagus before and I will have a look out for them but I am not quite sure we have them here in Austria but let’s see 🙂
I’m sure you’ll be able to find some. We are neighbors after all 😉
Beautiful!! Too bad the asparagus will be gone next month. Can’t wait.
You might be able to find a few on the market… We’ll see 😉
A beautiful post Stephane. Thanks for sharing your wild asparagus with us all – they look and sound absolutely wonderful!
Thank you dear friend! I’m glad you enjoyed it!! 😉
That´s a beautiful photo gallery, but I can totally feel with your difficulty in picking, it´s something I spend hours and hours on with almost every post….PS: I best like your vintage-y looking photos, if I had to decide (but luckily I don´t have to ;-))
I’ve been playing around with the vintage look and I must say I like it too. There is a specific effect I’ve been looking to reproduce for a while. Can’t seem to be able to get it exactly right though…
Lovely – and how interesting – your wild asparagus looks completely different from the type I sometimes buy in Spain, which has a much less developed top and the taste of which varies between mild and bitter (pleasantly so). I’ve never seen it in the UK, sadly, though our home-grown asparagus bed is giving us a good crop.
I wish I had enough space in my garden to grow my own. My sister does and they are absolutely delicious. The pleasure of harvesting them and serving your own organic produce to your guests…
Works for me…
I thought of you and your gorgeous pics on Saturday, wandering the market, camera in hand. Let me tell you it all looks more interesting in France, the food, the faces, the light. Gorgeous as always
Thank you dear Sandra. Having someone thinking of me on the other side of the planet makes me feel very special indeed 😉 🙂
What a beautiful market! I’m going to France for 2 months soon, can’t wait to see these old markets again. Nice photos!
I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time Derrick! 2 month is a long time. You’ll be able to see and enjoy quite a lot 🙂 Have fun!
I love your photos as ever, but I completely feel your pain about photo-choosing and colors and light (it happens ALL the time, sigh)
It can get quite annoying can’t it? 😉
I think your photographs are lovely! I am pretty sure most of your readers would agree. I can visit France virtually via your pictures every time you post. Merci. Sheila
Thanks for the vote of confidence dear Sheila!
I love the pictures of the market. It’s always a great pleasure to look around a market and get some energy. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome Jessie! The market always makes me feel better indeed 😉
Forget the color scheme, these pictures are gorgeous anyway. Love love this post!
Thank you so much dear Chaya! You make me feel better 🙂
I think your photo’s are spectacular, on my best day with the camera I couldn’t even come close. I’ve never had wild asparagus, I’ve heard of it but have never seen it at the markets. Your meal looks delicious.
It really was delicious 🙂 I like the photos too, it’s just that I would have liked a little more consistency in terms of the color scheme… Some are bright, some are old looking… I like them all but don’t think they belonged together in the same post… I’m just being a stupid perfectionist 😉
Perfectionist yes stupid absolutely not!
I’m not sure our wild asparagus over here is the same as over there, but when I was a teenager, we used to go to my boyfriend’s grandmother’s house up in Northern Michigan and pick it from the side of the road. My favorite way to prepare it is to drizzle with oil and lemon juice, lemon pepper and kosher salt and roast it in the oven (or on a barbecue) for about ten minutes until the ends just start to char. Yum!
Yum indeed Sarah! Yum indeed 😉
We are our own worst critics when it comes to the work we produce – your photos are fantastic! I have never seen wild asparagus in Australia but if I ever see it I will be sure to give it a try 🙂
You really should! Absolutely delightful! And thank you for the vote of confidence 😉
Pretty remarkable. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen wild asparagus before. Lovely. Ken
First time I came upon them and so so glad I did… Thanks Ken!
I have only come upon wild asparagus once, at the Bastille Market in Paris—but, alas, we were staying in a hotel and had no kitchen. I’m so glad to learn what it tastes likes, as I had always wondered. (And I think the photos are grand.)
Thanks Michelle! Next time buy the asparagus and come see me. We’ll prepare them and enjoy them together 😉
Merci pour ce moment … de rêve culinaire !
Avec grand plaisir cher Mathias!
The photos are great, Stéphane, don’t worry at all, and my stomach is even more impressed and wild like an asparagus. Bises!
Bises my darling!! 😉
if these are bad photos then I have never seen better… lovely market photos,.they really add to the fresh feeling of the asparagus… and yes we eat wild asparagus a lot and usually find it ourselves growing in the wood line behind the family farm… Yummy
You are very lucky dear Jolynn! I need to find my own spot in the area… They are quite expensive at the market: 5€ for a small bunch…
Can I tell you one thing?? I used to pick wild asparagus by myself on the margins of the property…I did it every year…and I absolutely love omlette & wild asparagus & young onions. A concentrate of the spring itself, a concentrate of good taste (as well as your post!!)
Oh what a great idea! They would be great with Spring onions you’re right!! 😉
You have brought the French markets back to life for me. Lovely photo essay. I remember once standing in the covered market in Santes (about half way between the fish and the cheese) and thinking to myself that I was in heaven on earth.
I can’t wait for our trip.
Best,
Conor
I can’t wait either Conor!!! It will be so much fun to show you around!
Ok your “bad” pictures are quite good. 🙂
😉
Are you kidding? I love your photos even if they don’t measure up to your own standards! I have a deep and abiding love affair with asparagus. We could pick wild asparagus in Iowa, not here in California. So I grow my own – deep green, purple and white. It’s so yummy! Tastes much better than the store bought.
The pink ones (after the wild ones) are my favorites…
I’ve never ever seen pink!
Your photos are delicious 🙂
Thanks Angelique!! 😉
Your photos are good my friend…dont punish your self so much 🙂
You are too kind my dear friend!!
As usual, Stephane, your photos are delightful and make me long for the market and for lunch. 🙂 The wild asparagus look so delicate and their flavor must have been such a wonderful surprise.
We just got our tickets for France this weekend, so I’m anticipating a few lovely weeks around Dijon. My s-i-l is stocking up on champagne, so that’s a great start. 🙂
janet
Champagne is always a great idea 😉 I so wish Dijon was closer to Bordeaux…
Me, too! 😦
Wild asparagus! Looks delicious. Some time ago I bought a steamer and find this a great way of cooking ordinary asparagus as well as a whole range of other vegetables like broccoli and carrots.
It is a great healthy way to cook you are right. You just need to find the right sauce or vinaigrette to make things taste and look more interesting 😉 🙂
No apologies needed. Wondrous market pictures!
Thanks darling! 🙂
Your photos are just magical…don’t be so hard on yourself. Others are blessed by your work my friend!
You are too kind my dear friend! 🙂
Well I think your photos are lovely, as always. I’ve tried wild asparagus a few times, but it is not easy to come by here in Lille (it usually travels from your area or the South-East, where I have friends who actually know “wild asparagus spots” in the garrigue). I love the way you combined the wild and the white asparagus. It is simple, elegant and yet just a bit sophisticated. Love it.
I’m glad you had the experience dear Darya! Aren’t they delightful?! 😉
I love these. They’re beautiful.
They really are Amanda. Aren’t they? I’ll make you some when you come visit 😉
I can’t wait.