ASPERGE DE BOIS

Asperge de bois is wild asparagus, Ornithogalum pyrenacium or to those who come from Bath, 'Bath Asparagus'. It is also called Star of Bethlehem. It is not closely related to the normal asparagus Asparagus officinalis. Wild asparagus is normally hard to find and very rare to buy. Cruising into a lock on the Bourgogne canal I saw a sign saying 'À vendre - Asperge de bois, Champagne .....' As the saying goes, it would be rude not to. Whilst Soraya was going down in the lock money changed hands and goods transferred.

Asperge de bois.

The lock keeper arrived with a great bundle of asparagus, enough for a few meals. It was yummy. Not as overtly tasty as normal asparagus but very good.