1 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,319 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Sabor Protection of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: I'm Annie Reese and I'm Lauren Vogelbaum, and today we're 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: talking about asparagus. Yes, thanks to Secret Mermaid, our listener 4 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: and the epic request and pictures she sent of her 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: in burlesque asparagus attire. I mean that is how you 6 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: get it to do a topic. Yeah, boy, apparently that's 7 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: all you need to do, is a burlesque routine revolving 8 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: around the food. And we will immediately jump on that topic. 9 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: We will drop everything else. This is a saver emergency. 10 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: It's time to talk about asparagus. It is, it turns 11 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: out is kind of timely because they're in season here 12 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: um and also associated with Easter by some folks because 13 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: of their fast springtime growth symbolizing resurrection. Yeah, definitely a 14 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: springtime kind of treat. I just cooked some some asparagus 15 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 1: the other day, so so it is fresh in my mind. 16 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: I definitely have a craving. I I've always liked asparagus, 17 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: but for some reason, like one of my main memories 18 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: of asparagus is how weird. I thought as a kid 19 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: that it was my brother's favorite vegetable. I thought that 20 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: was weird. I don't know why this is like the 21 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: thing that stands out. I definitely didn't develop an appreciation 22 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: for asparagus until I was a little bit older. Um, 23 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 1: I don't think my parents served it that often, though 24 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: I can't. I don't have very many like deep childhood 25 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 1: memories of asparagus. Maybe I've just blocked it out. Maybe 26 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: it just wasn't of interest to me, so I forgot 27 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: all about it until a little bit later on. But yeah, no, 28 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: I mean I I love this stuff now, and I 29 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: still feel like it's sort of like a special treat 30 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: because it can be expensive. So as I'm like, who asparagus? Like, 31 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: are we fancy today? Like? Wow, it does feel fancy. Right, 32 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna I'm hoping I can get my hands on 33 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: some soon. But alright, alright, alright, let's get your question. Yes, asparagus, 34 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: what is it? Well, asparagus is made of edible spears 35 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: or the part that we eat, our spears that that 36 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: shoot up from an underground um stem and root system 37 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: that all that'll go on living year after year, like 38 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: up to twenty years UM. If it is properly tended 39 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: to and if you were to let those spears keep growing. Um. 40 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: You know those like triangular scales along the shaft of asparagus. Yeah, 41 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: And and that are also like bundled together at the top. 42 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: That those are protective coverings for for where leafy feathered 43 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: branches would grow out of that main stem um up 44 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: to a height of like six ft or or about 45 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: two meters. And and the bundle at the top of 46 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: the spear is not a flower structure. Um. Flowers happen 47 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: on those feathery branches that you could let grow if 48 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: you wanted to. Um. And some flower structures develop into 49 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: red berries that should you grow them, you should not 50 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: eat because they are mildly toxic. Well there you go, 51 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,119 Speaker 1: important safety tip. Um. Yeah. And we harvest and eat 52 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: asparagus spears when they're still young and unbranchy, because that 53 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: is when they are tender. If you've ever had like 54 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 1: a like stringy asparagus, that means it's old enough that 55 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: it's developed a tough tissue in preparation for for bearing 56 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: the weight of future branches. Fun thing about asparagus, the 57 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: spears will continue using their sugars to develop that tough 58 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: tissue even after you harvest them, meaning that you should 59 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: cook asparagus pretty soon after you purchase it, although keeping 60 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: it in the fridge does help stall out that development 61 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: a little bit. Left to its own devices, asparagus spears 62 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: will be mostly green um. And that's from the chlorophyll 63 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: that the plant creates when it's exposed to sunlight UM, 64 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: so that it can you know, turn that light into 65 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: more energy. Some varieties will take on a purplish coloring 66 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: um just on the scales or throughout. White asparagus is 67 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: specifically grown in dim or dark conditions, often in like 68 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: hills of soil, to prevent that chlorophyll from happening. And 69 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 1: that's why that's why white asparagus is more expensive. It's 70 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: more work, huh. Also not very popular in America, apparently, 71 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: like the way that people prefer it, I guess in 72 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: Germany and France. So so who knows. I have never 73 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: had asparagus. I'm trying to think if I have, and 74 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: I can't. I cannot remember for the life of me. 75 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: So um, maybe not, maybe I should A mystery of 76 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: Laurence history. Yeah. Absolutely, Asparagus do prefer temperate climates where 77 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: where the ground remains kind of cold into the spring, 78 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: which is when those spears shoot up, and it's enjoyed 79 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: all kinds of ways, boiled, baked, steamed in saltees and soups, 80 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: shaved in salads, in schnops. I've heard it's in schnops, 81 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:06,679 Speaker 1: snaps asparagus schnops. Yes, I heard it's very zy. Huh 82 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: someone right in? Yeah? Absolutely. Um. I've also heard about 83 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: asparagus ice cream and I want to try that immediately. 84 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 1: It sounds so herbaceous, like semi savory, arbaceious ice cream. Yeah, 85 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: I do too, M craving. I didn't know I was 86 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: going to have today. Right here we are. The botanical 87 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: name for the asparagus that we're most familiar with a 88 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: garden asparagus is asparagus a fishi analis um. The word 89 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: asparagus derives from similar words for the plant, going back 90 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,799 Speaker 1: to uh, the Greek asparaghos, which might have its inception 91 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: in a pie root, meaning to spring up. No one 92 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: is super share about that one. And the species name 93 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: of fish anais comes from the Latin term for like 94 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: the medical supply room or dispensary of monasteries um, pointing 95 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: to asparagus use in medicine. Ah. Yes, and that brings 96 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: us to the nutrition. Yesh, Asparagus is a great addition 97 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: to your diet. Is just packed with vitamins and minerals 98 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: and has good punches of protein and dietary fiber. It's 99 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 1: low and fat and calories though, so although it will 100 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 1: help fill you up, it's best paired with a bit 101 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: of fat and a bit more protein to help keep 102 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: you going. And traditionally it's been used to treat all 103 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: kinds of conditions. Research into its dietary uses is ongoing. 104 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: Bodies are complicated, More research is necessary. But one thing 105 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: that there is, as it turns out, just a lot 106 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: of research about already, is asparagus p indeed, just a 107 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: shocking amount. Oh my gosh. Okay, alright, so folks have 108 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: been researching this like like in earnesty since about the 109 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: nineteen fifties. So if your p smells weird after you 110 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: eat asparagus, you're not alone. Um. Asparagus contains a number 111 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: of sulfuric compounds, including one that is unique to asparagus 112 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: um aspara gussic acid asparag goosic acid. I didn't look 113 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: it up and I'm not gonna so there. Um researchers 114 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: still don't know why our body deals with this stuff 115 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: differently than with other sulfuric compounds, so that it is 116 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: so odorous in our urine. But if your p does 117 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: not smell weird after you eat asparagus, you are also 118 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: not alone. Researchers think that some folks just don't have 119 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: the genes that code for the right olfactory receptors in 120 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: our noses to sense these compounds. Um, And there's some 121 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: argument about whether some human bodies might not even create 122 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: those compounds to begin with. The general census seems to 123 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: be that it's more the sensory thing. But further um, 124 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: the genes that code for those sensory receptors in in 125 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: our in our noses have hundreds of variants across our genome. 126 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: This isn't like a single gene. This is like a 127 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: lot of repetition a us our genomes. So like, why 128 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: did why did our bodies decide that this was evolutionarily important? 129 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: I also, what can you do if you can't smell it? 130 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: What this is? This is not a question that I 131 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: came up with on my own. This would not have 132 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: occurred to me to ask. But in in a study 133 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: published in the British Medical Journal in that was looking 134 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: into these genes that are responsible for being able to 135 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: smell this um that the researchers wrote, quote, future replication 136 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: studies are necessary before considering targeted therapies to help anasmic 137 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: people discover what they're missing. An osmic being a people 138 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: who cannot smell this stuff. So yeah, there's if you've 139 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: never smelled asparagus p before, there's hope for you. Yet. Wow, 140 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 1: are there people out there that are just really bummed 141 00:08:55,800 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: that that yearning yearning they don't get this very strange aroma. 142 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: They'll never know, you know, I I do get it. 143 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: So I so I can't speak for anyone, I guess, 144 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 1: right in let us know. I mean, sure, sure, I'd 145 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: love to hear from someone who's like, one day I 146 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: hope to know what this is all about. Yeah, have 147 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: you been like just just living with the sense of 148 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: like like existential loss because you don't have this Like 149 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: is this is this a thing that plagues You're like 150 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: waking dreams like yes, just dreams of asparagus? Right in? 151 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: We need to know, we gosh, we do, um, but 152 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: what about what about some numbers? Wow? All right, well, 153 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: moving away from roma PI a roma you never know 154 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 1: whether it will go h China leaves the way in 155 00:09:54,600 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: asparagus production, followed by Peru and Mexico. In the United States, 156 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: it's most asparagus is grown in California and then Michigan UM, 157 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: but it has been introduced to the entire continental United 158 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: States and to all of Canada. The Guinness record for 159 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: the longest stock of asparagus is from two thousand four 160 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: from from from Canada and it measured over eleven feet long. 161 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 1: That's like three and a half meters. Wow, right, right. 162 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: And there is a very sweet story from from the 163 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: Southeast Iowa Union from twenty nineteen about this one gardener 164 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: I think in Washington State who had an even taller one, 165 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 1: but apparently it didn't make the Guinness book. You know, 166 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: I've read some criticism about the Guinness process that's a 167 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 1: little bit biased, but you know, but people are out 168 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: there trying for it, and I think that's what's important. 169 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: And there is a picture included with this Internet article 170 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: where this grower had created this wild scaffolding structure um 171 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: in order to support it, and I just I just 172 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: love everything about that. That is pretty great. I love 173 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 1: how because asparagus can last, like you said, fifteen to 174 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: twenty years. Some farmers call it like old friends. So 175 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: she built a scaffolding for her whole buddy. Yeah, well yeah, 176 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: because she she said that it was like it was 177 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: like growing like eight inches, like in in a short 178 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: like every short period of time, like a day or 179 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: like a week or something like that. And uh and 180 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 1: so at a certain point, you know, she was just like, well, 181 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: let's see how far this Let's see how far this 182 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: rabbit hole goes. Yeah, let's we approve, we approve. Oh 183 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: my gosh. Um. There are also asparagus festivals. Um. There's 184 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: one annual one in Stockton, California, Um, every April, and 185 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: it has been put off this year. Um, sadly, but 186 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: but they do when when it's back. They hold a 187 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: world deep fried asparagus eating Championship. Oh. The most recent 188 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 1: number and the largest record from which I could find 189 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: was from and professional competitive eater Joey Chestnut set the 190 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: record of twelve pounds eight point seven five of deep 191 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: fried asparagus in ten minutes. Wow. There's a lot of 192 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: things struggling to process with that piece of information. Yeah, 193 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: I'm still kind of stuck on the deep fried asparagus. Yeah, 194 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: I think it's like it's like whole spears that have 195 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: been breaded and deep fried, which sounds delicious, and I'm 196 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: mad that I've never eaten it. I know, my thing, 197 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: Why is that right? Gosh, I imagine it's like it's 198 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: like deep fried green beans, but even more like tender 199 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: and succulent. Well, now is the time for cooking projects, 200 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: oh rush, and now is the time for asparagus perfect. 201 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: I also wanted to put in here that this that 202 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: this annual festival also has a spear. It's of the Valley, 203 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 1: which is their wine and beer pavilion spear. It's that's excellent, excellent, 204 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: certainly something. I love it, and I don't care what 205 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: that says about me. Me me neither. I appreciate what 206 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:36,679 Speaker 1: it says about you. Thank you, Lauren, Thank you any time. 207 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. Um, and yeah, we we do have 208 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: some some history. How how did we get here to? 209 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: These are modern times of asparagus puns and festivals. But 210 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: but first we've got a quick break for a word 211 00:13:54,040 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: from our sponsor, and we're back. Thank you sponsor, Yes, 212 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: thank you. So we humans have been cultivating and eating 213 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: asparagus for over two thousand years but they've been kicking 214 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: around for at least five thousand years in the wild. 215 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: Researchers think asparagus originated in the Mediterranean and or parts 216 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: of Asia. The wild varieties have been traced back to Africa. 217 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: The crop was also probably cultivated early on in Egypt 218 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: and perhaps used medicinally or as an offering in rituals, 219 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: and the ancient Chinese would treat esteemed guest to an 220 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: asparagus footpath upon arrival. Oh gosh, huh, yeah, I like it. Um, 221 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: I mean not that, not that they need my approval. Um. Yeah. 222 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: Asparagus was depicted on tombs in ancient Egypt as circa 223 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: fourth century BC. The ancient Greeks ascribed medicinal value to 224 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: asparagus as well, and also leaved it was a yep, 225 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: you guessed it an afro d z A. I was 226 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: like shocked that this surprised me. How much of an 227 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: aphrodisiac people thought this was? Um? But okay, more on 228 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: that in a bit. Hypocrates recommended it for diarrhea, urethra 229 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: ailments and as a diuretic. In one area of ancient Greece, 230 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: there was a wedding tradition involving asparagus quote. After vailing 231 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: the bride, they put on her head a chaplet of asparagus. 232 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: For this plant yields the finest flavored fruit from the 233 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: roughest thorns. And so the bride will provide for him 234 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: who does not run away or feel annoyed at her 235 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: first display of peevishness and unpleasantness, a docile and sweet 236 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: life together. So asparagus, if you're feeling a little snappy 237 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: right now, ed asparagus, it'll be okay. Yeah, it can 238 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: heal marriages. So yep, that is the official that is 239 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: the science fact. Yes, yes, plenty noted about asparagus. Quote. 240 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: If a person is rubbed with asparagus beaten up in oil, 241 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: he will never be stung by bees. Now do you 242 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: imagine that this only works for as long as the 243 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 1: the asparagus is on you? Right? Or is it a 244 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: one time is it right? Yeah? Is it like the 245 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: cootie shot? Like you're right, Well, you gotta as long 246 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: as you do the complete cootie shot though, because if 247 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: you only do the first half right, it's not gonna work. Yeah. Yeah, 248 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: you have to do it for all your life. That's 249 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: very important. It's true. It's true. We've got so many 250 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: science facts for you to dig. We do you know 251 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: my favorite UM power in the video game BioShock is 252 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: the b one and I, oh, of course it's the best. 253 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: But I remember when I read about it was like 254 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: that sounds so silly, But then when I got it, 255 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: like no, this is great. Oh yeah, yeah, No. I've 256 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: never felt like such a gleeful maniac as when I 257 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 1: had the power to shoot bees at people. Yes, yes, 258 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: but and I loved how there was the risk of 259 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: danger too, because for anyone who hasn't played this game, 260 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: basically you can attact people with bees, but you can 261 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: also leave. You can also leave traps be traps, and 262 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: I love the danger of setting one of those and 263 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: then you're just walking to log mine your own business 264 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: and then you hear the roar of a big daddy 265 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:31,120 Speaker 1: because he stepped into your beach trap, and then you're dead. Yeah. Um, yeah, 266 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: you gotta watch out. You gotta watch out for be traps. 267 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: But if we had this thing from plenty, we we 268 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: would have been safe. We clearly need to go back 269 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: into BioShock. Um And for the tinned asparagus, I'm sure 270 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: that there's some in there, Yes, yes, that's probably the 271 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: only way to protect yourself from the bees. Yeah. And 272 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: if it isn't already, then producers of BioShock. I'm sure 273 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: you're listening. Go on, go on and write that back 274 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 1: in very very important. You've got to be historically accurate here. Um. 275 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: In addition to its use as a be repellent um, 276 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: asparagus is also mentioned in the oldest surviving recipe book 277 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 1: by Epicius, You Go Asparagus. The ancient Romans aid asparagus 278 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: either as a main course or aside um. Some records 279 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: indicate that at this time, some varieties of these asparagus 280 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: were hefty, coming in at around one third of a pound. 281 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: So I can see her stock, Yeah, exactly, like it 282 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: being a whole meal. Um. Emperor Augustus loved asparagus. He 283 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: would send elite guards called the Asparagus Fleet, out in 284 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: search of asparagus, and then have the fastest people he 285 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: could find take the freshly harvested asparagus up into the 286 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: Alps to store them. The story goes he even coined 287 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 1: the saying quicker than you can cook asparagus, a saying 288 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: I've never heard, but I enjoy. Yeah, yeah, and I 289 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: love I love this story that this dude just had 290 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:07,719 Speaker 1: a fleet at the ready, like as quick asparagus emergency, 291 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: go go go. Yeah, Someone's like, so what do you do? 292 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: I am in the asparagus fleet. I can only hope 293 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: it was a really esteemed position. Yeah, like like, oh, 294 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: you must be very fast. Gosh, exactly exactly. Apuleius, first 295 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: century poet and author of the Golden Ass, landed himself 296 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 1: in courts for witchcraft after he was accused of making 297 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 1: a love potion to woo a rich widow. Yeah, and 298 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 1: this potion was made up of asparagus, fish eggs, crab tails. 299 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,239 Speaker 1: I don't know what that is, a bird's tongue, and 300 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 1: doves blood. But he was acquitted. Well that's good. Um. 301 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: Fun fun with language. Um in Middle English, so sometime 302 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: between like um, some folks apparently mistook asparages um asparagus 303 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: as a as a plural, leading to the singular asparagee 304 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: or sparag we're discussing this. Yeah, I love that, Yes, 305 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: I love the singular a sparagy. Yes, I shall take 306 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: a one asparage please, just the one, but only the 307 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: one into the position. To the Emperor of Habsburg wrote, 308 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: asparagus makes men have pleasant desires, yes, and this was 309 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: around the time historians think asparagus arrived in Germany, probably 310 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: through monasteries. By the sixteenth century, asparagus had made its 311 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: way to the tables of the aristocracy, and French King 312 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 1: Louis was a big, big fan, so much so he 313 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 1: had special greenhouses built so he could enjoy asparagus whenever 314 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: he desired. His second wife, Madame de Matino, eagerly sought 315 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: out new asparagus recipes. Asparagus was cultivated almost solely for 316 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: nobility until the eighteenth century, and this is around the 317 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: time the French cultivated variety made its way to Britain. 318 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: Nicholas Culpepper wrote in sixteen fifty three, A concoction of 319 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: asparagus roots boiled in wine and being taken while fasting 320 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: several mornings together stirs up lust in men or woman whatever. 321 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: Some have written to the contrary, so he was coming 322 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 1: out in favor. He's like, no, asparagus is an aphrodisiac. 323 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: I tell you, just mix it with some wine and 324 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: don't eat anything else, you know, I can see yeah, sure, 325 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. More more fun with language. From the 326 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: sixteen through the eighteen hundreds. Um, if regular folks in 327 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: the English speaking parts of the world did grow asparagus, 328 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: they might have called it sparrow grass instead. Um, asparagus 329 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: was considered a little bit of like a like a 330 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 1: hoity toity like ivory tower sort of word like like 331 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: what are you like a botanist calling it asparagus grass? Yeah? Wow, 332 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: all right. During the nineteenth century, nervous bridegrooms were advised 333 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 1: to eat three courses of asparagus on their wedding day 334 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: to combat performance anxiety. Okay, hmm, I think that was 335 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: specifically in France, but you know, European settlers brought asparagus 336 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: to the America's by the seventeen hundreds, and Thomas jeffersons 337 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: that one he loves them. He had like a whole 338 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: plot dedicated to them. Richard Bradley's seventeen nineteen guide New 339 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: Improvements of Planting and Gardening both philosophical and practical, came 340 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 1: with this quote about asparagus. The asparagus is one of 341 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,120 Speaker 1: the great dainties of the spring, and what I account 342 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: to be part of the most necessary furniture of a garden. 343 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: Dainties up the spring furniture of a garden. Ha. Indeed, 344 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 1: that is beautiful. I'm speaking of beautiful. Um. In eighteen 345 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: eighty an art collector commissioned a work from from Eduard Manet, 346 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: a Bunch of Asparagus than the name of the work 347 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 1: is a bunch of asparagus. He commissioned it for eight 348 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: hundred francs. Manet painted the bundle of of purple tipped 349 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: white asparagus tied up a string. Um sent it on 350 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 1: to the collector, and the collector sent him a thousand francs. 351 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:34,679 Speaker 1: Manett responded by sending a second, smaller still life of 352 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: a single asparagus spear, along with a note that said, 353 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 1: there was one missing from your bunch. Oh, I know, 354 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: that's so much um. And Marcel Proust work in Search 355 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,400 Speaker 1: of Lost Time, collected from nine seven. He wrote, all 356 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: night long, after dinner at which I had partaken of asparagus, 357 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: they play ad lyrical and course, and they're jesting as 358 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: the fairies in Shakespeare's dream at transforming my chamber pot 359 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: into a vase of oz, I say, of aromatic perfume. 360 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 1: So people were wondering about this for a while. They 361 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 1: were yeah, yeah, um and man, he was apparently just 362 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: a big fan of asparagus. He also wrote um later 363 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 1: or perhaps earlier in the same I think later in 364 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,640 Speaker 1: the same work, what fascinated me would be the asparagus 365 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: tinged with ultramarine and rosy pink, which ran from their heads, 366 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: finally stippled in wuave and azure through a series of 367 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: imperceptible changes to their white feet, still stained a little 368 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,680 Speaker 1: by the soil of their garden bed, a rainbow loveliness 369 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 1: that was not of this world. Wow right, Wow, Okay, 370 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get an asparagus and just prop it up 371 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 1: and get some good lighting, and I'm just gonna try 372 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: to appreciate the beauty and see if I get anywhere 373 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: near what he's writing about. I mean, I mean, I 374 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: think he was also talking about the white variety of 375 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: asparagus here, So maybe we're really missing out on something. 376 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: You're right, right, We need to get the world pandemic 377 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: under control. Number one, Go to France or possibly Germany. Yes, 378 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:22,719 Speaker 1: and and three seek out some white asparagus. Possibly, go 379 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: to a farm where they're growing it. Reach our little 380 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: grubby hands into the into the soil. There's apparently a 381 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: specific asparagus cutter tool that you use when you're when 382 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: you're reaching in there into these hills of earth to 383 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: to pluck these white asparagus that have never seen the 384 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: light of the sun. Um, you go check it out 385 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: for ourselves. That is the only way, there is no 386 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:53,399 Speaker 1: other way could get our white asparagus. That's it. I 387 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,159 Speaker 1: love it, Lauren. You're always seeing clearly what needs to 388 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 1: be done. I can't wait to present the planned to 389 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:03,919 Speaker 1: our boss. I am practical if nothing else, and I 390 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: think Conal will agree. I think he will because he's 391 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: a man of sense as well. So soon we will 392 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:17,479 Speaker 1: understand the beauty of the white asparagus. Gosh, I hope so. 393 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 1: It sounds so nice. It does. But anyway, back to 394 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:26,199 Speaker 1: the history. In the nineteen fifties, canned asparagus hint the 395 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: shelves in the US. It was pretty popular. And I'm 396 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 1: pretty sure that that's where, um, the tradition of of 397 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: asparagus casseroles in in Christmas and Thanksgiving tables came about 398 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,199 Speaker 1: in in the United States because previous to that, I 399 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,399 Speaker 1: can't imagine that you would have gotten that much fresh 400 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: asparagus around that time. Not nowadays, we can get it 401 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: pretty much all year round from um Northern Hemisphere places 402 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 1: in the spring and Southern Hemisphere places in the fall. 403 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: But anyway. Another literary reference in novel Love in the 404 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez writes of a character 405 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 1: having this disastrous day and his only consolations to this 406 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: day being a nap um and and be the immediate 407 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 1: pleasure of smelling a secret garden in his urine that 408 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: had been purified by lukewarm asparagus. WHOA well, right, you 409 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: know that goes back to what we were saying before, 410 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 1: the sadness. If you can't smell this lukewarm Yeah, yeah, 411 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 1: according to no less than get real Garcia Marquez. Um, 412 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: if you're not smelling it, you are missing out. Stop 413 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 1: and smell the asparagus. P everyone, and then if you can't, sorry, 414 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: that's what the thing should be. Yes, I will put 415 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:53,680 Speaker 1: it to a vote immediately. Great the savor democracy whom 416 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 1: I am not sure, but figure out the details later 417 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 1: m hm um. In recent asparagus news, thanks to a 418 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 1: few trade agreements, the amount of asparious production in the 419 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:11,639 Speaker 1: United States has dropped sixty from two thousand four to 420 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 1: two thousand fourteen, and it has not rebounded. I think 421 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:21,199 Speaker 1: since Yeah, gosh, yeah, it's pretty severe. There's there's a 422 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:27,880 Speaker 1: handful of like government memos about it. Yeah yeah, and 423 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: it's it's for a lot of reasons. It's it's the 424 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:33,880 Speaker 1: trade agreements, but also it's kind of difficult to grow, 425 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: and it does take sort of a a minute. Yeah. Yeah, 426 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: you're you're not supposed to really harvest um any of 427 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 1: it for the first year that it's grown, um, and 428 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: much at all of it for the second year that 429 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 1: it's grown. It's really in the third year that growers 430 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: say that it's okay to start really taking stocks off 431 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 1: because before then, yeah, you're you're letting that that root, 432 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: that underground stem and roots system developed so that it 433 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: will douce um large crops of flavorful tender shoots. Um. 434 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: So yeah, So it takes takes a minute to start up. 435 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: And and I'm sure the climate change isn't helping. Nope, nope, um. 436 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: And it is like it is the old friend. So 437 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 1: you have to have to be gentle with the asparagus. 438 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 1: Oh you do. You have to, you have to, you 439 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: have to take care of it. It's a it's a 440 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: long term relationship. We all need a long term relationship 441 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: with asparagus in our lives. Yes, yes, I agree. Well 442 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: that about is what we have to say an asparagus. 443 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: It is. Um. We do have a little bit more 444 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: for you, though, but first we've got one more quick 445 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: break for a word from our sponsor, and we're back. 446 00:29:54,520 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: Thank you, sponsor, Yes, thank you, We're back with love 447 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 1: shooting up spring. Obviously, I don't know I even have 448 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: to explain. You shouldn't you shouldn't clear, Yes, I should. 449 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: I shouldn't let people interpret it. I as an artist, 450 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 1: I am putting my own interpretations, and that's wrong. I 451 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 1: don't know. I don't think it's wrong to let people 452 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: know what you are thinking when yeah, yeah, the artist's intent. Yeah, 453 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 1: I think that's fine. I mean, like, it would be 454 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 1: weird if you said, if you said it before, if 455 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 1: you were like, now, think of this one as this 456 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 1: thing specifically. That would be a little bit you know, 457 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:44,720 Speaker 1: hoity toity, not calling it an asparagus at a certain 458 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:49,200 Speaker 1: time in history. And that's not what I want. No, no, 459 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: you don't want to to think that of you. No, no, never, 460 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: Sam wrote, I've been a fan of Savor food stuff 461 00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 1: since the beginning and ever since this mad situation we 462 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: have with seaword being COVID coronavirus around the world. Right now, 463 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 1: I realized food is the one thing I need to 464 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 1: keep relatively sane and happy. I actually caught myself once 465 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 1: or twice thinking it's okay, as long as I have cheese, marmite, 466 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: bread and butter or something to make it with, I 467 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: will be absolutely fine. Now though I realized I also 468 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 1: need food stuff. Sorry, favorite I've written in tongues with 469 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: my mad cap usually disastrous adventures with food, and one 470 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: of my favorite sections of the podcast, alongside well what 471 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: is It? And the history is a listener male. It 472 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 1: warms the cockles of my bitter little heart now and 473 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 1: they hurt. People out there love food as much as 474 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:40,239 Speaker 1: I do. As someone who works in mental health, I 475 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: totally know how difficult it must be for you too 476 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 1: to just carry on and keep doing what you're doing. 477 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 1: But you really pull it off. Thank you. It's exactly 478 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 1: the same as the show we've all come to new 479 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 1: and love. I absolutely loved the bond Me episode, and 480 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:56,480 Speaker 1: I had actually made some ponds of me recently. There 481 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:58,959 Speaker 1: I was spreading marmite on my cheese, and marmite toasty 482 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 1: Monstross Tod and I thought, oh my god, pan French 483 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: colonialism bond could it be? And that was almost immediately 484 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 1: before Lauren mentioned the exact same theory. It honestly made 485 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 1: these monotonous days when everything is the same just a 486 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: little bit special. That being said, I listened to the 487 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: meat Pies episode. Lauren, You're a hufflepuff? An argument there, Slytherin. 488 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: Oh big argument there, outrage, I well stand for it. 489 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,800 Speaker 1: I once again, the snooty little raven claw have deigned 490 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 1: to look up from my book to chip in with 491 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 1: something no one wanted to hear. You kept mentioning pastry 492 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: when you make shepherd's pie. What okay? I googled this 493 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:44,360 Speaker 1: Apparently a long time ago it had pastry, but no 494 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 1: shepherds are cottage by I have ever eaten or even 495 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,720 Speaker 1: heard of as pastry. After some more research and a 496 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: real roller coaster of emotion as the whole world as 497 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:55,719 Speaker 1: I now flipped upside down, I came to a conclusion 498 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 1: there were once two styles of shepherd's cottage pie, Scottish 499 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 1: and Irish, and the Scottish style had pastry. This was 500 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 1: a huge blow, seeing as I'm Scottish and I thought 501 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:08,680 Speaker 1: I was on the right side of history, but alas, 502 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 1: it's the other cells who are taking the pie world 503 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 1: by storm. Then I got to thinking cottage pie, which 504 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 1: she's on top like my dad makes it inside a 505 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 1: pie case. Then the whole world made sense again because 506 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:25,840 Speaker 1: carves inside of carves is the Scottish way. Very wise, 507 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:31,560 Speaker 1: very wide words. Okay, so Annie, would you would you 508 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:35,360 Speaker 1: share with us the the level of emotion that you 509 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:40,840 Speaker 1: experienced when you when you read this email? Why yes, 510 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 1: but it might blister, so step back if you need to. 511 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 1: I so I wish I had been recording my reaction 512 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:53,400 Speaker 1: when I read this very lovely email he suggested, I'm 513 00:33:53,400 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 1: a Slytherin. I almost immediately responded all caps like flip 514 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:05,440 Speaker 1: the computer. I will not stand for this outrage um. 515 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:09,839 Speaker 1: But I tempered my reaction and I waited, you know, 516 00:34:11,200 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 1: and I just want to say to any Slytherins out there, 517 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:18,279 Speaker 1: that's all totally cool. And Lauren, actually you were the 518 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,239 Speaker 1: one who when we were in New Orleans and I 519 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: was like, oh, I'm so a griffin door and you 520 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:26,799 Speaker 1: were like, well you are, but I think there might 521 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:30,280 Speaker 1: be some Slytherin in you. And we took the test, 522 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 1: and I that's my second highest percentage. Um. Nevertheless, I 523 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,800 Speaker 1: was definitely trolling you a little bit when I said that, um, 524 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:45,440 Speaker 1: but not because I don't think it's true, but because 525 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:48,440 Speaker 1: I am a little bit of a troll so that 526 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,640 Speaker 1: I love that you know me that well. And I 527 00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:55,799 Speaker 1: just fell for it immediately, like no questions, was like 528 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:58,759 Speaker 1: this can't be true. It was like Luke Skywalker. It 529 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:03,840 Speaker 1: was like Skywalker moments. My, this is my whole what 530 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 1: if I what if I'm not who I thought I was? 531 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:13,919 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, Yeah, yeah, I am definitely like ridiculously 532 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:16,759 Speaker 1: a Hufflepuff. Like every test I've ever taken was like, 533 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 1: oh dude, dude, Um, there's like a little bit of 534 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:25,000 Speaker 1: Raven Claw in there somewhere, but like and and like 535 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 1: a little bit of Griffin Door and like probably not 536 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 1: very much Lytherin, but yeah, it's all the tests. So 537 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 1: it's it's very funny because I've got so many friends 538 00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:36,760 Speaker 1: who's who like change over time, and mine just like nope, yeah, 539 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: mine's been consistent. And I have to say, like when 540 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: I saw the percentages, I was kind of upset at 541 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 1: how low my percentages were for both huffle Puff and 542 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 1: Raby Clock and they're both five or something. I was like, really, 543 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:54,320 Speaker 1: I don't have any like loyalty or smart or whatever. 544 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 1: Oh god, all four houses have of aspects of the 545 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:04,359 Speaker 1: others within them. It's okay. If anyone out there has 546 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,480 Speaker 1: never experienced the world of Harry Potter, you are probably 547 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 1: very confused, right Oh yeah yeah. I tried to explain 548 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:13,360 Speaker 1: this to Chuck over a movie crushing. He was like, 549 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:17,240 Speaker 1: what are you talking about? Um? I actually do think 550 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: most people have like a strong first and then a 551 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:22,480 Speaker 1: like pretty strong second. And if you look at the 552 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 1: main three characters like Harry would be Griffin or Slytherin, 553 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 1: Hermiones Griffin or Raven Claw, ron Is, Griven, Rufflepuff. I 554 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:35,640 Speaker 1: think that's just the theory of mine. But I think, yeah, yeah, 555 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: it's human human nature. You know, we're we're all we're 556 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,680 Speaker 1: all a little bit a little bit of everything. It's true, 557 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:48,839 Speaker 1: it's true. But anyway, that's our Harry Potter sidebar. We 558 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 1: had BioShock sidebar and I got any Potter sidebar. Oh, 559 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:55,480 Speaker 1: It's like we're weird nerds. That's it's very unusual. This 560 00:36:55,640 --> 00:37:01,759 Speaker 1: never happens in these episodes. Never never um okay uh. 561 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:05,120 Speaker 1: Olivia wrote about two years ago, y'all did an episode 562 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 1: on gingerbread. I don't know if y'all ran across this 563 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 1: in the research or had heard from another listener about it, 564 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 1: but every year there's a national Gingerbread house competition at 565 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:16,719 Speaker 1: the Grove Park in in Asheville. For a few years 566 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 1: up until my mom competed every year. The last year 567 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:22,560 Speaker 1: she managed to place in the top ten with the 568 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:26,359 Speaker 1: Twelve Days of Christmas house pictured below. Photos of her 569 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: house where shared around so much that I can just 570 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:31,480 Speaker 1: google twelve Days of Christmas Gingerbread house whenever I need 571 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:34,600 Speaker 1: to show it off to someone for reference. The plywood 572 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:37,160 Speaker 1: base is two ft by two foot. Uh. Some of 573 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:39,920 Speaker 1: the edible glitter disco dust that she used for the 574 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:43,400 Speaker 1: house is still embedded in our dining room table. I 575 00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:45,480 Speaker 1: can't remember exactly how long it took my mom to 576 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:48,319 Speaker 1: make the house, but many contestants will start building in 577 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:53,239 Speaker 1: the spring for the November competition. Interestingly, the house that 578 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:56,680 Speaker 1: won the last year my mom competed used a brand 579 00:37:56,680 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 1: new technique that caused quite a stir among the competition regulars. 580 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:04,560 Speaker 1: The house was of the three Wiseman pictured below. So 581 00:38:04,719 --> 00:38:06,879 Speaker 1: some rules of the competition are are that the house 582 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,440 Speaker 1: must be at least gingerbread, and some of that gingerbread 583 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:13,840 Speaker 1: must be visible. A lot of houses use fondentt, and 584 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: at first glance, that's what this house looks like. Some 585 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:19,880 Speaker 1: of the regular competitors were complaining that was just all FONDENTT. 586 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:27,200 Speaker 1: But that house is entirely on gingerbread, no fondent. The 587 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:29,759 Speaker 1: lady who made it created a new technique she called 588 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 1: gingerbread clay. She baked sheets of gingerbread until it crumbled, 589 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,399 Speaker 1: ran it through a mill to make a flour out 590 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:39,319 Speaker 1: of it, and rehydrated it until it was the consistency 591 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:43,400 Speaker 1: of clay, at which point she added coloring and molded 592 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:46,560 Speaker 1: and baked the figures into their final form. Since we 593 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:48,799 Speaker 1: haven't gone back to the competition after that year, I 594 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:51,600 Speaker 1: don't know how much of an impact the technique made overall, 595 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:54,800 Speaker 1: but in the immediate aftermath there was quite a hubub 596 00:38:54,840 --> 00:39:05,239 Speaker 1: about it. Love it gingerbread hubbub. Oh that's delightful, right right. 597 00:39:05,239 --> 00:39:10,760 Speaker 1: That is some savvy material science, some savvy gingerbread material science. 598 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:15,200 Speaker 1: I bore it, I do too, and um she sent 599 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:18,680 Speaker 1: us pictures and if you are looking for a rabbit hole. 600 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:20,560 Speaker 1: We should start just having a rabbit hole of the 601 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:28,240 Speaker 1: day recommendations and a great one. They are amazing, like stunning, stunning, 602 00:39:28,239 --> 00:39:31,719 Speaker 1: work like stuff that I definitely couldn't produce out of 603 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:36,359 Speaker 1: any material, let alone Gingerbread. Right, I'm trying to make 604 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:41,160 Speaker 1: a diorama right now for D and D and oh yeah, 605 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:45,839 Speaker 1: I do have our super producer, Dylan gave me a 606 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:50,160 Speaker 1: Marvel Gingerbread house kit because he's the best. Huh yeah, yeah, 607 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:53,680 Speaker 1: And I'm trying to incorporate that into the diorama. And 608 00:39:53,719 --> 00:39:58,560 Speaker 1: I think things are getting out of hand. I'm almost 609 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:00,880 Speaker 1: at the point of no return in I'm a little afraid. 610 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:08,640 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, Oh that is that's wonderful. Um. I mean, 611 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:12,400 Speaker 1: I hope that you come to a place of peace 612 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,160 Speaker 1: with whatever it is that you're doing with it. But 613 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:19,560 Speaker 1: I am delighted that you're making the effort. I hope 614 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:24,640 Speaker 1: I can find peace with my Avengers themes Gingerbread, D 615 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:31,440 Speaker 1: and D. Yeah. Also, that that is a noun phrase 616 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:34,840 Speaker 1: right there. That is a whole noun phrase that I 617 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:37,680 Speaker 1: think you just innovated. I don't think that anyone has 618 00:40:37,719 --> 00:40:44,640 Speaker 1: ever used it before. I'm a word smith. Ye, that's 619 00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:51,359 Speaker 1: true poetry. What I do? Well? Oh God, both of 620 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:53,719 Speaker 1: them for writing in. If you would like to write 621 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:56,560 Speaker 1: to us, you can. Our email is Hello at favorite 622 00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:59,520 Speaker 1: pod dot com. You can also reach out on social media. 623 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:02,920 Speaker 1: We are on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram at savor 624 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:05,320 Speaker 1: pod and we do hope to hear from you. Savor 625 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:07,760 Speaker 1: is a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts 626 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,040 Speaker 1: my heart Radio, you can visit the I heart Radio app, 627 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:13,080 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. 628 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:16,800 Speaker 1: Thanks as always to our superproducers Dylan Fagan and Andrew Howard. 629 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:18,680 Speaker 1: Thanks to you for listening, and we hope that lots 630 00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 1: more good things are coming your way.