611645 Mon Apr 13 10:23:24 -0700 2009 30 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 4591504 It's starting to become ramp season in this part of the country--very exciting for this particular foodie. I thought this thread could serve as a spot for people to discuss local menu items that might include ramps. But I'm also interested in where to buy them. I frequent Dupont's Farmer's Market but have been traveling for the past few weeks. Does anyone know if they are for sale yet? In terms of menu items, last spring Proof served ramps in their gnocchi dish. It was one of the best gnocchi dishes I've had in a long time (and that's saying a lot...gnocchi is one of my favorite foods.) Palena also included it in their consumme soup along with morrels. Mmmmm! I love the flavors of spring. Mon Apr 13 10:23:25 -0700 2009 76776 Elyssa 1 4591588 Elyssa, I have to confess that I have no idea what a ramp is. (Other than a horizontal, wedge-shaped thing that you use for wheelchairs.) Tell me...tell me! Mon Apr 13 10:42:40 -0700 2009 4591504 270174 Sean D 2 4591724 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_tricoccum Sean--if you've never had them I suggest checking out a local restaurant that might be including them on their menu (hopefully you'll get some ideas from this thread). They are very popular in this region of the country. Mon Apr 13 11:18:03 -0700 2009 4591588 76776 Elyssa 3 4592684 Way cool!! Thanks for the link, Elyssa. I'm very intrigued by this. Yet, another food adventure for the summer. Mon Apr 13 16:11:47 -0700 2009 4591724 270174 Sean D 4 4593082 Make sure you hit Dupont market this weekend or next, ramps are an early spring treat. If you wait until summer you will miss your chance. I think the best way to discover ramps is to saute them and add them to an omelet. Assuming you are using good eggs, all you need is a bit of salt and you will be able to experience what a ramp really tastes like. Mon Apr 13 18:51:45 -0700 2009 4592684 221576 pineapple sage 5 4595006 I'll be out of town this weekend but hopefully they will have them the following weekend. I really want to try cooking with them this year. Tue Apr 14 11:45:02 -0700 2009 4593082 76776 Elyssa 2 4591816 I'd understood that they're wild leeks. You might enjoy this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/511085 which I think includes a recipe from monavano, maybe the one mentioned below. I got one bunch at Dupont Farmers Market yesterday and was looking for recipes.... Mon Apr 13 11:45:41 -0700 2009 4591588 112104 mselectra 3 4591965 They are wild onions, or wild leeks, very strong little onions, they grow in the mountains. Typically only on one side. In West Virginia and Western Maryland people search for them and guard their patches. You dig them up with a ramp hoe. They can be pretty strong and if you eat them raw you will sweat out the smell. Often if cows eat them you can taste it in their milk. They are very popular in West Virginia. And actually kind of a rural country thing. My family gets a big kick out of the fact that "city folk" now are into ramps. They can't believe restaurants serve them. Mon Apr 13 12:25:36 -0700 2009 4591816 92426 ktmoomau 4 4593844 They have a ramp festival in West Virginia. It reeks! ;) Tue Apr 14 05:54:47 -0700 2009 4591965 10624 MikeR 4 4595468 Ramps grow here (central Indiana). No mountains. We love them in just about everything. To keep their flavor going longer, I make ramp compound butter, infuse white wine vinegar with them, and pickle the stems. Pickled ramps are amazing! Tue Apr 14 13:46:47 -0700 2009 4591965 11995 pikawicca 1 4591594 My families ramp feed was last weekend, so the farmers market that stock from WV should have them soon, if not already. Mon Apr 13 10:44:09 -0700 2009 4591504 92426 ktmoomau 1 4591607 Ramps are basically like spring onions-they add onion flavor, have a bulbous portion (which is small this time of year) and a plume-like leaf. If you've ever smelled onion grass, you will have an idea what rams are like. At Dupont, Spring Valley has them for $5 a bunch, and at the Old Town Alexandria market, Bigg Riggs had them for $4 a bunch. Yesterday, I made my chicken thighs with Ramps and Morels in a White Wine Cream sauce again. http://houndstoothgourmet.com/braised-chicken-thighs-with-morels-and-ramps-in-a-white-wine-cream-sauce/ Mon Apr 13 10:47:47 -0700 2009 4591504 65673 monavano 2 4591649 How about in the Baltimore area...does the Waverly Market have them? I've never tried them and want to! Mon Apr 13 10:57:34 -0700 2009 4591607 109812 crosby_p 3 4594242 Planet Produce in Belvedere Square had them last year. You'll have to ask for them. Tue Apr 14 08:13:47 -0700 2009 4591649 11285 paulyr 2 4667807 "chicken thighs with Ramps and Morels in a White Wine Cream sauce" ?! Wow, I think that either you are a great mountain gleaner, or the chicken thighs were the cheapest ingredient. I'm impressed you found both morel mushrooms and ramps around the city. About ramps: Back when I lived in western NC, I had a friend who had grown up in Henderson, NC, home of a local spring ramp festival. She told me that back in her elementary school days, pulling and eating a ramp in the morning was an easy way to get the rest of the day off from school. The teacher would send a kid home. Fri May 08 20:20:41 -0700 2009 4591607 289945 consaacs 1 4592662 DO NOT EAT THEM RAW! You and the people around you will regret it. But...sauteed or grilled are quite tasty. Wholefoods in Annapolis had them 4/11. Mon Apr 13 16:00:42 -0700 2009 4591504 17831 3MTA3 1 4593076 Wow, I absolutely feared ramps as a kid growing up in WV. I recall that we usually had them with fried potatoes for breakfast or sauteed with greens at dinner . They've not even crossed my mind the past couple years I've been back in the area but now I will certainly be on the look out and I look forward to seeing what I can do with them. Mon Apr 13 18:48:56 -0700 2009 4591504 180125 WestN 2 4593394 Yummy..and only a true foodie would post about this baby leek. haven't seen them yet at the market in DuPont, only had ones that are hydroponically grown from greenhouses, in restaurants, as an acoompaniment. with roasted chicken, parsnip puree, red wine reduction, and the ramps... Mon Apr 13 21:17:07 -0700 2009 4593076 256995 LuLuBlaubugunder 3 4593872 Spring Valley has had them for $5 a bunch the past two weeks. They are under the big red awning next to the crab cake stand. http://www.freshfarmmarket.org/farmers_producers/meet_our_farmers_producers.php?fpindex=9&fpgroup=p_s Tue Apr 14 06:10:16 -0700 2009 4593394 221576 pineapple sage 1 4593710 The ramps lovers on this board may appreciate knowing that the first garlic sprouts of the season have arrived at Peking Gourmet Inn (PGI). Last night was our once-a-year visit to PGI since we were shopping at the Bailey's REI. We arrived knowing we wanted to order shrimp with garlic sprouts. Only when the dish was served were we informed that this was the sprouts second day of availability and that the season lasts only two weeks. The rest of our meal included leek dumplings and moo shi chicken. Solid but not transcendent food. Tue Apr 14 04:00:17 -0700 2009 4591504 61567 Indy 67 1 4594209 they had lots of ramps on sunday. I personally do not like them at all, but they did have them. Tue Apr 14 08:02:45 -0700 2009 4591504 51422 Jeserf 1 4594776 In general, ramps are just coming into season this year, and IMO, this is the best time to buy them. As they grow, they get stronger. You won't smell like onions are oozing from your every pore....yet. But, once the ramps get bulbs and grow larger, they will become quite potent. This is what ramps from W. VA look like right about now-see pic below Tue Apr 14 10:45:16 -0700 2009 4591504 65673 monavano 2 4594786 sorry...the first pic I tried to load was too big. Here's young ramps below..... Tue Apr 14 10:47:21 -0700 2009 4594776 65673 monavano 1 4595367 We split some posts on how to cook ramps off to a new thread on the Home Cooking board. You can find that topic here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/611999 Tue Apr 14 13:20:23 -0700 2009 4591504 2 The Chowhound Team 1 4595441 Elyssa, just read on another thread 2Amys has a special pizza with ramps. Don't know how long they will have it. Tue Apr 14 13:38:41 -0700 2009 4591504 92426 ktmoomau 2 4595522 Ooooo thanks for letting me know. Anyone else know about any menu items? Tue Apr 14 14:00:55 -0700 2009 4595441 76776 Elyssa 3 4595564 We ahve romp and Verpa mushroom (a type of false or early morel) risotto at Dino. Tue Apr 14 14:11:51 -0700 2009 4595522 59959 deangold 4 4595597 Sounds delicious. How long to you think you will have that for? Tue Apr 14 14:22:24 -0700 2009 4595564 76776 Elyssa 5 4596536 As long as they are available. We will probably go to ramps and local asparagus at the end of the month. With or without the Verpas. I recall getting ramps thru June last year. Tue Apr 14 19:24:37 -0700 2009 4595597 59959 deangold 1 4596270 Proof has grilled ramps on the menu as a side dish. Unfortunately I cannot tell you if they were any good because although I ordered them, service was a little spotty and they never brought the order out. Tue Apr 14 17:48:48 -0700 2009 4591504 57416 chilibaby 1 4668135 Nicaro in Silver Spring had them in the soup of the day (I believe with morels), and sauteed as a side with the halibut entree this week. Sat May 09 04:19:20 -0700 2009 4591504 83560 marianna trench