Road Food Europe. Is there a Road Food Europe?

Spargels:
This is the last week of for spargels. I purchased a kg of the best grade of white asparagus (8.99Euro/kg). The prices range from 2.99 to 8.99.
Ok, I have a group of Dutch fans camped outside of my office window- from their World Cup game against Argentina last night. I offered them some expresso. Sorry for the digression, anyway.
A kg is about 20-25 stalks. The locals suggested that I simply boil them and add salt or sugar and butter or use Hollandaise sauce. V960's and Tacchino's ideas were more interesting so I first tried steaming a couple. I then sautéed them in butter, with garlic cloves. This morning I had fried some with turkey salami in low heat.
I will ask my wife to do the quiche and we will have some mayonnaise, with garlic, this evening. Tomorrow sauce Hollandaise.

How does it taste? Well, steaming them seems to allow the flavors to enter more thoroughly. The spargels seem to take on other flavors but the bottoms can be a bit bitter. The tops retain most of their endogenous flavor, which resemble green asparagus in flavor. Simply steaming them with a little salt was also good but they really need to be cooked slowly, seemingly.
Interesting points: you can squeeze moisture out of the bottoms- when they are fresh. It squirts out. Their diameter is in some cases 3.5 times greater than green asparagus. I am told that they have more flavor. I might get some asparagus today and cook them along with the spargels, for comparison. Some of the spargels are allowed to grow above ground, slightly, and at the top they are green- with a little red in it. The spargels are generally bigger than the green varieties. I took pictures. Lastly, you can get asparagus year round here but the spargels are only from May to the last week of June and, therefore, are delicacies.

Expat:
I am so envious...this is the first time in twelve years that I have not been in a World Cup crazed country for the matches (my previous experiences involved being in two continental European countries, and two South American countries, over the period of the tournament...don't ask, but I can vividly remember being in Brazil and Italy when both countries had victories in qualifying matches...you would have thought that the sky was raining gold nuggets. I just don't know if we in the States will ever understand the mania around the World Cup in countries where soccer (football) reigns....it is seriously like the Super Bowl times ten in terms of obsession...and unlike in the States, gender seems to not make a big difference...men and women alike seem to obsess about the sport!).

But I digress...Expat, I think I forgot to tell you that aside from scraping the outer hull, most people in Europe tend to cut off the bottoms of the asparagus...but I commend you for being adventuous and doing what you are doing.

Please try that asparagus along with other steamed vegetables, such as cardoons, etc., that you can find in Western Europe, with a nice aioli (garlic mayonnaise) and a baguette or two. You will have a very nice Provencal summer dish, along with a nice white wine, such as a good Riesling or Gerwurztraminer.
I am truly envious...please enjoy these next few weeks of World Cup action!

Thanks for the recipe tips. I am not familiar with cardoons but I will look it up. Yeah, I will also cut the bottoms off and add other vegetables too, thanks.

It is unbelievable! I have never seen anything like this World Cup phenomenon. Yesterday hundreds, thousands, of orange clothed men, women, and children were en route to the stadium to watch the Netherlands play Argentina. These Dutch fans gave me the insight of what soccer and the World Cup represents. Orange hair, orange jeans, orange bottles of beer, glasses, bags, flags, horns, drums, etc. filled the subway stations as the crowds chanted songs in Dutch, English, and German. These chants sounded like Medieval war songs, as the drumming resonated throughout. The naturally multi-lingual Dutch recited chants in various languages. The mood was soberingly festive- they were on their way to war but filled with a serious passion, determination, and joy. There was something primordial and nationalistic about it. I went home and watched the game in a new light. This morning, and to no surprise, there were Dutch fans (French and Swiss too) inserted and lodged into unexpected places and positions along my route to the lab, amazing! I tell you the spirit of this World Cup is something else. And I hear the Dutch chanting in the distance. I don't know of anything like this in the U.S.

quote:

Originally posted by V960



One thing that has not come up is the sulphur compound formed in our systems by asparagus that comes out so strongly in urine. Why this vegie? One of those questions that will never be answered really well. I just say it is just one more example God's sense of humor.

FYI: The humor extends to the white asparagus just as well. I was a bit puzzled and then remembered your sulphor discussion.

Hi,
There is a white maize that is endemic to the Zimbabwe and Mozambique area of southern Africa. A farmer in England, David Mwanaka, has been able to successfully grow this otherwise difficult variety in England. Mr. Mwanaka has posed the question as to if there are "any very early white
maize varieties in either the USA". He also said that white maize is can not be shipped to the U.S. because the shelf life is one day. Is that true? Thanks.

Don't know if it qualifies but my Silver Queen corn is coming in now. Planted it when the oak leaves were the size of a squirrel's ear. Grandpa got most things right.

Thanks V960. I don't know either but I will forward the question to him. Perhaps you and he can work soemthing out.

In terms of a roadfood-esque guidebook for Paris (and in France, in general), I usually go with Le Guide du Routard. A lot of the Michelin guides and their equivalents are too snooty and recommend really expensive places.

The Routard gives you a bit of everything - different ethnic types of food, different price ranges for every district in Paris, with the same irreverent, "we just love food" style the Sterns demonstrate so well. True, they are all in French, but once you pick up the language, you'll find these guides are a gold mine.

"Le Guide du Routard - Paris - Restaurants et Bistros" is one that I bought last time I was there, and it's pretty much the French equivalent to Zagat Paris.

Le Guide du Routard, thanks. We are currently trying to find a place in, or perhaps just outside of, Paris. The French social democracy has peculiarities that essentially require us to put in our paperwork for a home 2 years early. What!!! Two years! As a university employee I am a state employee therefore I get state assisted living in select residences, which require time to secure. In any event, we have to look at schools- there are about 15 English schools, only one free- and neighborhoods. We have begun to watch Le Monde tv, my wife has anyway, and have learned that Canada is more important then previously thought and French tv aires incredible cooking shows. If August is not terribly hot, yeah right, we will brave Paris and will hopefully have tracked down Le Guide du Routard. Oh, and we may have to say that we are English Canadians since the State Department is suggesting that there may be attacks on Americans by previously active groups in France. My, my, how times have changed......

quote:

Originally posted by lleechef

The "cognac" (it can only be called that if it was made in Cognac.....French logistics) was perhaps Chartreuse? The one from fruit was probably Poire Williams or Framboise?

Nobody ever said Europe was cheap. But I hope you're not tipping because the tip is ALWAYS included. A cup of coffee in Nice or Cannes is 6 Euro. Lunch is even more. Forget about dinner! If you get down to the Italian Riviera be sure to go to Portofino. Wonderful food in a very old fishing village.

Yes, there are "seedy" areas of Paris, just like any huge city. La Gare du Nord area is particularly bad. Try to stay between Place de la Nation, Place Bastille, Place de la Concorde and the Latin Quarter. Of course the Champs d'Elysee is also safe.

And STOP eating at Pizza Hut! Good God, you're in Europe! Eat some foie gras, some pate or terrine, cornichons, sweetbreads, cochon du lait, frog's legs, wild boar, lapin au pruneaux, duck, goose, moules frites, oysters, Dover sole, ANYTHING but pizza! Although there is this little place in Mons in the Grande Place that does make a KILLER Italian style pizza, that's when you're not having a "Saucisse Frites" which seems to be one of the national foods of Belgium.

Also there is an excellent restaurant off of the Avenue de Breteuil (behind the Esplanade) called Au Fils du Dragon. Fantastic authentic Chinese food, especially the dim sum!

When we were in Paris, the tax was so high (around 26%), they no longer included a tip. My husband had thought the tax WAS the tip, and once we realized we had stiffed your pals at Roger the Grogs, we had to run back and gave the server her tip the next night!

I went to a fantastic Ethiopian restaurant, the Heart of Africa, here in Frankfurt the other day and we left a tip. I wasn't going to but the people we were with suggested so. I think people have grown accustomed to Americans doing so in the larger cities of Europe. In Paris we shall resist with the utmost diligence-- because I can barely afford the food.

I do not tip when in Europe or Japan beyond the bell boys and such. Everyone is paid a living wage and no one tips me for my design work so why should I tip a waiter who has a good salary and an automatic 15% service charge? Europeans and Japanese stiff our waiters when they come here.

They expect the tips from Americans but they also expect us to pull their stones out of the fire when the Germans begin to like Alsace as a district again. Too little appeciation and too many marble headstones but the wine and sauces are wonderful.

Australia is the place to visit as an American...get away from the tourist traps and you are not allowed to pay for your beer. Guiness Stout down under is about 10%..wicked stuff. I sat on a stone wall under the Sydney bridge just outside a bar named the Mercantile being handed countless Stouts one night. Everyone was friendly and the women were beautiful. Should have stayed.

Crown lager is the drink of choice for me there however. The oysters are much better than any I have had in the states. The shell is 3/4 deep and yet small. The oyster tastes a bit like a regular oyster dipped in butter and cream. WONDERFUL.

Anyway back to Europe. The Hotel Soufitel near the Lux A/p has a butt steak special that is wonderful. DO NOT go to the Japanese restaurant in Lux city. Expensive and of only medium quality. $100 per person at least.

Yeah, you are right but I find myself leaving a small tip, in general. (2Euro) I haven't received any dirty looks yet. We were suppose to visit Japan this month but I am too busy. I will remember not to tip.

Australia sounds good. Maybe some day... But these Europeans keep the beer flowing, especially in this heat, the hottest July since records began. It seems like all work places keep beer and expresso on hand. The Germans are now seeking to adapt to an American Midwestern wheat strain that can survive the heat. Their crops can't handle it. Actually there may be opportunities for American agriculture across Europe who have strains that can survive these warmer summers. I imagine this will affect the beer quality over the years. Even the Swiss are having trouble with their crops. However, the Swiss are not especially known for their crops, except the special herbal crop that the farmers are 'allowed' to grow in the mountains for the domestic demand, which is so bizarre.

I was just telling my wife we should go to Lux this weekend. It is so hot and humid here but maybe it will be a little cooler a little higher up.

Just remember Lux has the lowest prices on booze and fuel in Europe.

Australia is one place you want to use ff miles to get to. Upgrade because it is one long flight. And make sure to buy a black opal because they are difficult to find anywhere else. I bought a set of ear rings for my wife and when they were stolen the adjustor basically said there aren't any black opals. We later got a very nice settlement.

Yeah, we have some guests arriving this week and I have suggested that we go to either Luxembourg City or Strasbourg, since they're both within 2hrs. Actually, I make it to the Swiss border within 2hrs so I can make it to Strasbourg in about 1:20minutes- no speed limits.

Black opals, pink diamonds, and Fosters.... I think I may be able to partake in one of the above if we make it to Australia.

This time in Lux I will do my best to avoid Pizza Hut but it is so convenient, inexpensive, and they have an excellent location. I am joking- I think.

There is a show called Das Perfekte Dinner here in Germany (http://www.vox.de/27474_37319.php). It is on Vox television. My wife and daughter watch this show all of the time. I assumed that it was a version of something already in the U.S. but it seems that it may not be. I just started watching it and I bet that this sort of show would be a big hit in the U.S. It is popular here.

Anybody out there, perhaps Food Network people, may want to consider a similar format for a show.

Well if you happen to roll through the UK, www.toptable.co.uk is excellent for finding restaurants (you can book through them too).

quote:

Originally posted by lleechef

The "cognac" (it can only be called that if it was made in Cognac.....French logistics) was perhaps Chartreuse? The one from fruit was probably Poire Williams or Framboise?

Hi lleechef,
I found that cognac mentioned in an earlier missive. It is by Leopold Gourmel. It is expensive. They have 3 varieties: the fruity one, Age du Fruit (50Euro); the flowery one, Age du Fleurs (70Euro); and the spicey one, Age du Espices (140Euro). I tasted (not purchased) the flowery one and it is fantastic!