Ramps???
I went to the U.Sq. greenmarket this morning, granted not very early, to see if I could find ramps, since everyone is saying they're here. No one had any, and they said they weren't coming in for another week or so... What's the deal? Which vendors have them? How much are they going for?
Thanks!
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16 Comments:
i haven't seen any up here yet in the hudson valley, rampville -- they're usually pretty expensive.... i can't remember what they were last year...
but i'm always amazed at how expensive they are.
how are you going to use them?
pooch at 6:47PM on 04/01/09
Pesto, compound butter, sautéed, pickled, grilled, tempura battered, puréed, blanched and vinaigretted, confited..... Depends on how much I can get my hands on :)
I ordered some from a farm in West Virginia just to be on the safe side and make sure I don't miss out. $18/lb with shipping........ Curious to see what they cost at the market, if they can be found at all. People get there damn early, and will buy everything they can get, greedy bastards.
simon at 7:18PM on 04/01/09
well, some of these people have their kids gathering them up here in rampville. they sell to local restaurants ..... ooo tempura battered.... sounds delicious. once they're out you should be seeing them everywhere. last year i worked in a place (in kingston) that had bus tubs filled with them, i mean thousands of ramps. i also made pesto.... powerful stuff. usually i heap them around a couple of chickens with some lemons and roast it up.... they're so good.
i want to say they were going for $11-12 a lb. but i can't remember....you'll be seeing a lot of them shortly, hold on.....
pooch at 10:15PM on 04/01/09
sounds delicious. you know, my mom lives in saugerties, i didnt even think about getting her to scoop them up for me. i bet they will be cheaper up there... pooch, maybe its just the wine talking, but i really like you :)
simon at 10:44PM on 04/01/09
I'm sad. I've never seen one, much less eaten one.
Sigh.
Me want ramps.
dbcurrie at 11:18PM on 04/01/09
It's too soon, be patient, the market will be filthy with them toward the end of the month
VerasTastyFreeze at 9:20AM on 04/02/09
None growing here in waaaay upstate yet...but any day now, we think. We hope, too.
I gotta tell you, they are one thing after being transported six-ten hours by truck to your market; they are a whole different something 20 minutes out of the dirt, dipped in salt crystals and eaten with fresh bread and butter.
BobbieAnne at 10:40AM on 04/02/09
I've seen them on a few chef-driven restaurant menus this week. And had to order extra grilled ramps with the entrees. I just asked one of the chefs to buy an extra pound for me the next time the "ramp-guy/gal" comes around. He's paying about $10/pound, but last year I saw some at the farmer's market for $20/pound.
If we're getting ramps in Indiana, I'm thinking NY should be getting some anyday now, if not already in some kitchens. btw, do what I did, if you know any chefs ask them about purveyors they work with. One of the chefs I know has a great relationship with the local farmers and they bring him all kinds of seasonal produce.
wookie at 5:19PM on 04/02/09
thanks simon! your mom lives in saugerties????? wow. she probably can get some off the side of the road, she may have to wrestle the woodchucks for them! me, i love pulling out the wild onions at this time of year.... they're all over my lawn. i just have to make sure the dog's haven't gotten to them first if you know what i mean :^).... hey it's organic..... !!!!!
pooch at 8:50PM on 04/02/09
@wookie - I was just in Bloomington for the past few weeks doing an internship. We got ramps my next to last day, and I got to clean all 10+ pounds of the things. (I love 'em so it was fine!) It has been pretty cold in NYC until about a week ago, so I think we'll have a little bit of waiting time until we see any ramps at the market.
producestories at 7:57PM on 04/03/09
They're here! 2.50/bunch which comes out to about 15/#. I'll be eating them all week :)
simon at 12:41PM on 04/04/09
Just did a drive-by our north-facing ravine wall and saw the first greens coming through--another week, and we will be digging. Come to mama, you stinky, stinky things!
BobbieAnne at 5:32PM on 04/04/09
Find a fresh water stream and look along the banks. All you want. Free.
JRonLI at 1:08AM on 04/07/09
What do ramps taste like? I've never had one or even seen them for sale around these parts. Are they really stinky?
gourmetgal at 1:42AM on 04/07/09
I hadn't realized they take so long to come into season on the east coast- here in San Francisco I got some free from a gleaning and neighborhood produce project, http://freefarmstand.org/ as early as March 16 (though I coordinated their donated bread, and therefore kinda get first pick). I got some last sunday that I'm using in tonight's fried rice. I also saw it roughly the same time at the natural grocery store nearby for $2/bundle, along with some lovely baby ginger. I was loving it in miso soup with a little dried wakame. Heavenly, and I swear it makes you feel instantly healthier. Definitely a spring tonic!
Ravara at 2:16AM on 04/07/09
@gourmetgal--They are a wonderful, garlicky-onion flavor, definitely strong, but tiny, young shoots are not so bad. I saw an episode of Bizarre Foods-Maine, and Andrew Zimmern chomped down on what looked to be a late-late spring/early summer HONKER-sized bulb and teared up in obvious pain. Eat 'em YOUNG, people! And yes, as Ravara says, there is a definite tonic effect. Wonderful things, these "leeks" are!
BobbieAnne at 5:52AM on 04/07/09