In Umbria, when springtime sprouts, so do the wild asparagus. It takes about an hour to walk to Assisi from our house: if you’re not foraging for wild asparagus as you walk.
Today, the walk took me about three hours: lots of asparagus to pick enroute. And a few stops here and there to photograph the wild cyclamen sprouting.
Wild cyclamens add fuchsia color splashes to the woods where wild asparagus sprout
By the time I reached Bar Ristorante Da Giovannino (just about a kilometer from our farmhouse) for a coffee stop, I already had quite a bundle.
Already quite a bunch by the time I stopped for espresso at Giovannino’s
By the time I was halfway to Assisi, the bunch was too big to clutch in one hand: luckily, Pino was out to do errands and drove past. He stopped and took the bunch home. On I walked…..and by the time I arrived at Assisi’s medieval walls and could spot the imposing 14th century medieval fortress, La Rocca, I knew I had enough not just for a frittata but also for pasta agli aspargi, too. Or risotto agli asparagi.
Maybe I’ll use one for my 2017 U.S. cooking classes in private homes. The unforgettable 2016 U.S. Umbrian rural cuisine cooking lessons tour did feature a recipe set with an asparagus dish: a new one coming up for 2017!
By the time I reached Assisi, quite a bunch…
Enough wild asparagus for a frittata and a pasta or risotto….
Frittata with wild asparagus
Pasta with wild asparagus
Read about a 1976 wild asparagus hunt – with my first sheep!
Click here to see a video of the asparagus hunt
Click here for a video of wild asparagus-frittata-making
Click here to see a video of frittata-making
Read more about wild asparagus hunts, then and now
Read about a wild asparagus festival near Spoleto
Click here for a wild asparagus recipe
Click here for more recipes….
Read about Novella’s wild asparagus
Oh, does that look ever delicious! However, since Craig and I will be there shortly it is not as painful seeing one photo of you after another with a fistful of wild asparagus. Otherwise…
The wild asparagus was wonderful! Our timing was perfect for lots of spring blooms, beautiful weather and tasting the fresh foods of Umbria! Jennie, Linda and I just spent 4 nights (April 7, 2016) in Anne’s countryside apartment, sharing a meal cooked by Anne, and enjoying the beautiful spring time pleasures of this charming hill town area. We toured Assisi with Anne, who made the visit so special. She is full of knowledge and enthusiasm for Assisi, and strives to tailor tours to your specific wants. She arranged a fabulous wine luncheon in Spello….the food, wine and ambiance were superb. Anne has many contacts, one is Werner, an experienced tour guide who provided us a wonderful 1/2 day private tour of Spello and the surrounding area.
Lastly, we so enjoyed staying in the country with Anne. We had a car which we thought was superb for seeing so much of Umbria. Anne was there for details, directions and suggestions! The 3 bedroom apartment was wonderfully furnished, had a full kitchen and two nice modern bathrooms. The peaceful solitude of the country was a welcome respite from noisy, bustling Rome. Anne’s husband, Pino, is a restoration contractor and fully renovated the house. Thank you!! Thank you!!
Ciao,
Cheryl
Cheryl, so good to have you, Linda and Jenny with us…wish you could have stayed longer!
;
Carol…if you get here in time this year, we can hunt the asparagus together!