One year ago today:
I kept hearing "ramps . . .who has the ramps . . . where do I find ramps . . .do you have any ramps?" throughout the Union Square Greenmarket Saturday morning in New York and almost helplessly, I was caught in the tide of ramp-seekers and washed up in Richmond yesterday with two perfectly preserved bunches kept carefully on ice and almost forgotten in the hotel mini-fridge (along with some amazing cheese). I didn't know that an article about this elusive, seldom-seen green had appeared in the New York Times, and I feel very lucky to have gotten away with some before the crazed foodies of NYC got wind of them and tore the pile apart.
Ramps are a loudly fragrant variant of leek--the wild variety--and are harvested by hand in the woods only in springtime. More pungent than its domesticated cousin and redolent of both onions and garlic, ramps are best cooked quickly in good olive oil and sprinkled with salt. Eat them with steak, eat them with chicken, eat them alone in your kitchen, one at a time, and enjoy an elusive jolt of allium plucked straight from the earth.
Pasta with Ramps is the perfect way to enjoy this fleeting pleasure of spring.
Brandon,
I love ramps! Did you know about all the ramp festivals around? I think there are several in West Virginia.
Mrs. Rowe used to fry her ramps up with eggs and keilbossi. (I am not sure I'm spelling that right!) I like them in salad—or anyway that you use onions.
Cheers,
Mollie
Posted by: mollie bryan | Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 03:28 PM
I'd love to find a source near Richmond--or even just an excuse to drive to Charlottesville. I know there's a ramp festival way down in southwest Virginia in Grayson County (here's a link). It's just above the border with North Carolina and kind of near Abingdon, but is a good, solid six hour drive from me. Let me know if you find a closer source!
Posted by: Brandon | Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 04:12 PM
The owner of Mrs. Rowe's, her son, Mike DiGrassie may have a close source. I know he goes off in the mountains in the spring to collect ramps. I'll follow-up with Mike to see if he's gone yet this year. My other source is home in Pa. THAT would be a long trip for you...
Posted by: mollie bryan | Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 06:57 PM
Ramps! Cool!
Okay, but onion and garlic? Followed by mouthwash for 3 days?:)
Posted by: janelle | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 04:33 PM
psst...hey...want some ramps....they grow in my yard...underneath the tree house....
Posted by: Judith Klinger | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Hey Judith--where do you live?
Janelle--a little stinky breath never hurt anyone--except for their friends.
Posted by: Brandon | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 08:25 PM