White Asparagus

[vietmeds]

Do you guys know if it's easy to find white asparagus here in US. I had it when i was in Spain, which was the first time I'd ever had it and it was wonderful. While in Spain, I bought a canned one and cooked it at the rented apartment, Loved it! I really want to cook some here in the states. So, what is the deal with white asparagus here in the US? Can we not serve it here?

[Suzanne]

It's a specialty produce item, not available all that much -- and then only in season (to the end of June or so). If I want to buy it fresh here in NYC, I have to go to the fancy (and expensive!) markets. The same for canned.

A place I used to work at served incredibly thin white asparagus (about the thickness of thick spaghetti), but it came from a specialty produce supplier.

[Pete]

I am beginning to see it in our nicer grocery stores here in BFE Wisconsin so I imagine that it can't be too hard to find. But the season doesn't last very long, like Suzanne said.

[Mezzaluna]

I see it at my mainstream supermarket*, and the quality is good. I think it's one of those ingredients that people are seeking more now that adventurous cooking is "cool".

*Pick 'N Save stores, at least in suburban Milwaukee

[Nentony]

I see it fresh occasionally at the produce market and regularly at the supermarket canned. Or in jars.

Tony

[Suzanne]

You guys in the rest of the country are a lot luckier than we are here in NYC!

[shroomgirl]

our white asparagus season is about now. Green has been out for a month....off to get 20# for tomorrow's event.

[gonefishin]

I haven't noticed them right now...

But they are carried in the regular grocery stores in the area.


Try talking to the produce manager. I've done this a twice, and they've put the order in both times. It's worth a try

dan

[lhinton]

I just used some for a dinner of 52, ordered it from Demma Fruit Company in Lincoln, NE. It was great.

[gbhunter]

Just from reading. If you tried that asparagus in Spain then you will be very disappointed with the asparagus grown here since it is not the same
In Spain you probably got it as fresh as possible. Here most of the stuff has to be transported large distances and most of the time it makes the plant stingy.

Just my 2 cents

[mudbug]

Yes, there are many variables including the fact that there are over about 300 varieties of asparagus even though only 20 are edible.

If you take the same variety and grow it around the world in different climates and soils, there will be variations in flavor as well. So you may like or not like something in one place and like or not like it in another.

Can you track down what variety is grown to produce the white asparagus you had in Spain?

[vietmeds]

I had it a few restaurants in Spain. Next time i go to spain do you think chefs are normally okay with people coming in and asking them about their signature dishes? The canned asparagus tasted great as well, but i also bought them in Spain and can not find any here in Houston.

[mudbug]

vietmeds,

Every chef, like every human, is different. If you were only to ask what variety of asparagus it is... it's not asking for the secrets of how they prepare the dish. There is only one way for you to find out...

[JohnRov]

I just saw it at my local supermarket in Pittsburgh yesterday. I was in The Netherlands last month and they were raving about it there. They claimed it was the best and that ours in the US isn't even close. Dunno, it wasn't in season yet there so I didn't get to try it.