Monday, May 14, 2007

A Fiddlehead?

If you are not from Canada or a die hard Maritimer, you might not be familiar with this word. Want to guess what it means? To make things easier, I'll give you a multiple choice question :o) A fiddlehead is:

a) the end of an arrow
b) a young fern
c) someone who enjoys playing the fiddle

If you picked...









B, you would be correct! Let me introduce you to, what is considered a New Brunswick delicacy, the fiddlehead -

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Would you believe that this tiny plant causes a stampede every spring? I compare it to the gold rush. Literally. Pickers have their secret or staked out spots and these are carefully watched over until the first fiddlehead starts poking its head out of the ground. That's when a frenzy of picking begins! The picking timeline is very short because in no time flat, these curled up plants will unfurl themselves and produce a mature fern -

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Have I gotten your taste buds going yet? I did call fiddleheads a delicacy but I'm not your typical Maritimer. Yes, I have eaten fiddleheads before. Am I fond of them? Let me put it this way, if there was nothing else to eat, I would at least survive ;o) Fiddleheads are typically steamed and then slathered with butter. I've seen other recipes that add oil, vinegar and garlic but a little camouflage is not going to hide the fact that it's a fern. Okay, if you want to get brave enough and try these plants, maybe a Fiddlehead Omelette wouldn't be so bad.

I'm not a complete ignorant Maritimer though ;o) Give me lobster, give me clams, give me maple syrup or give me smoked salmon any day of the year! Fiddleheads are...ferns! Plain and simple. FERNS! Nothing scrumptious about that to me :oP

10 comments:

Mary Ann said...

Hey, I knew the answer! But, I have never eaten them or heard of anyone eating them(and, I'm in the South, where some strange things are eaten). And, I'm not planning to. Like you said--they're ferns!!

Faith Ann said...

I haven't read all your recent posts and will need to get caught up when I'm back home.

However, let me just say Ewwwwwwww. I hate fiddleheads. DS and DH love them. Although, I'd rather eat fiddleheads than some of the other things I've had/seen over the last few days!!

Sue said...

Interesting post, but I'm not sure fiddleheads are for me ;)

Lori said...

Just a FERN...I'm gonna faint, lol.

If I don't have fiddle heads with my Christmas meal, well the world might well come to a halt.

Thanks for reminding me that I need to be looking ;)

To each his own...in that case...mine,mine,mine! LOL

Jenn said...

Now that you mention it I seem to remember my dad calling the ferns we have in our yard fiddleheads but, I never knew you could eat them.

Shannon said...

Ever since you mentioned them a couple of weeks ago, I've seen them everywhere ! And I mentioned them to A, and now he points them out to me when I don't see them myself.

I have yet to imbibe in the delicacy... but you are almost tempting me. Just tell me they don't taste like brussel sprouts. And give me some cheese sauce on the side to mask the taste maybe ? LOL

Alberta said...

Cathey, we love fiddleheads! I have a small clump growing in my AB garden. The problem, when we turn our back for a get away weekend is when they will bolt! Maybe this year...I have some butter all ready for them! Yum! Great post!

Kim said...

Humm, learned something new here! Thanks for the info.. I think I will stick to my leeks, he he.

Just so you know, I have tagged you!! Please check out my blog to see what for.

~Kim~

Katie said...

I'm with Lori-ann, take away the presents but NEVER take away the fiddleheads and vinegar from my Christmas meal!!! Cream of fiddlhead soup is to die for too!

Anonymous said...

My guy loves fiddleheads, so I knew the answer - though I've never tasted them myself. I am however with you on the others - lobster, salmon, clams ... OH YEAH! Now you've got my mouth watering, Cathey! :o)