Chances are, you've never heard of a ramp {and I apologize for assuming you ignorant if you have}. Read on to hear about this interesting wild leek indigenous to our area.
Don't be fooled by their seemingly scallion appearance. This is not to say that ramps shouldn't be classified as onions; certainly, the ramp is a type of onion.
But there's no mistaking ramps for mild green onions. First of all, there's the pungent smell which will pervade your home as soon as you bring them inside. Then, there's the taste of a raw ramp: strong, garlicky, and sharp all at once-- the flavor lingering in your mouth. Finally, there's the cooked taste: a mingling of onion and garlic flavor all in one ingredient.
Hopefully I haven't scared you away from trying these wonderful wild things.
Because you should.
And soon-- they will only be in season for a short time.
Ramps are a wild leek which is generally foraged in certain regions of the United States-- including West Virginia. Calvin Riggleman of Bigg Riggs Farm claims that they only grow on the northwest side of the mountain (though I've not confirmed this with any other source). While they can be cultivated to some extent, Calvin and his friend/ fellow ramp hunter claim that it is much more fun to find them in the wild. Last week they found the above pictured bunch of ramps growing up out of a pile of snow.
In honor of ramp season, I will be featuring various ramp recipes throughout the next few weeks. First up is my recipe for ramp and ham buttermilk biscuits-- so stay tuned.
You can find ramps this weekend from Calvin of Bigg Riggs Farm at the Old Town Farmers Market in Alexandria, Virginia or the Great Falls Farmers Market in Great Falls, Virginia on Saturday. On Sunday, you can find ramps from Calvin's neighbors over at Spring Valley Farm during the DuPont Circle Farmers Market.
And if you want to learn more about ramps, check out the following website. Or, if you decide you really love ramps, visit the Whitetop Mountain Ramp Festival in May and participate in their ramp eating contest (information below)!
Website dedicated to tracking all ramp festivals' dates and locations
Sunday, May 17th, 2009 11 AM-6 PM
Features a Ramp Eating Contest
