In the spring, people walk slowly along the sides of the roads that run across the fields. Their eyes are fixed on the ground; one would think that they had lost something in the bushes. Suddenly they stop. Their hands dive into the tall grass to pick something up, before adding it to a curious bouquet without flowers. A bouquet of wild asparagus!
We also walk through the olive groves in search of their fine green stems which shoot delicately through the spring air. Each discovery fills us with simple and spontaneous joy. Like that of the children who run through the garden to find chocolate eggs, on Easter. Sometimes we also spontaneously shout “over here, over here!”. Then, we proudly wave the asparagus bouquet, which grows little by little in our hands.
The time of wild asparagus is an opportunity for beautiful walks through the countryside. We often take the time to stop to look at the flowers, which create bursts of colors on the tender green of the meadows, to observe the first bees, too busy to be frightened, to look at the bird which, hidden in the branches, chirps as if we weren't there.
At this point, we are already thinking about the dish we will make in the evening. Will these asparagus simply be sautéed in the pan with oil and garlic, with a nice slice of toasted bread? Or will we enjoy them in a dish of slightly spicy linguine? Unless we let ourselves be tempted by an asparagus risotto to which we could add grilled pine nuts before serving.
The time of wild asparagus is that of winter gone, of the mildness of spring and already of the promises of summer. A time that we see coming back every year with a little pinch of excitement...