Rhubarb in Rhode Island

January 30, 2013 — Anthony Bordain, food, Rhode Island, Spargelfest

It is thrilling to plan travel on various levels. I adore museums and classy architecture. Gardens, formal and botanical, please me greatly. The culinary delights of a new terroir and culture top my list. I am such a fan of farmer’s markets, known in most of the world as simply the market, that I literally plan to eat everything in season and local wherever I go. One of my favorite festivals in Europe is Spargelfest, the over the top celebration of asparagus harvest. I love the stuff, both white and green, although I can’t really see why they bother with the white. Do not express that feeling about white asparagus in a German speaking country unless you are ready to be lectured. After all, these are the Spargelfest people, and they know a thing or two about spargel. Restaurants feature special menus that highlight the seasonal star in all possible ways. I have not seen spargel desserts or beer, but I would not be surprised to find that they exist. Roadside and city corner stands are set up for the purpose of streaming spargel farm to table. These temporary businesses are swamped with asparagus fans getting festive with both green and white.

I am really excited to learn that when I visit Rhode Island there will be fresh asparagus!!! They promise kale all year. The wintertime farmers’ market in Providence will hook me up with what I need. There is also a slight chance of rhubarb in the harvest forecast for early May. Now that would just put the icing on the cake. I love alliteration as well as asparagus and rhubarb. I can really relish a Rhode Island Rhubarb extravaganza. Fiddlehead ferns, which I have never knowingly eaten, will be ready as well as alliterative all by themselves.  Perhaps most intriguing is the fact that Anthony Bordain will perform live at the Providence Center for the Performing Arts, talking with Eric Rippert, another chef, about food. The name of this show is Good vs Evil. I believe I must see that performance. I have very few heroes in show biz, and Mr. Bordain is one of them.  I just now became acquainted with Mr. Rippert, and think there is major potential.  The theater itself just hit the national news for allowing producers to decide if tweeting is permitted during each show, and then strictly mandating that those in the tweet seats ( at the back) lower the lights of their phones. The folks in Providence have a long history of tolerance, but draw the line at performance tweeting. How very civilized!!