This is a Romanesque broccoli-cauliflower cross, or, as it's translated here "yellow cauliflower". I've also seen it called other names, but most are similar to 'roman cauliflower', 'mediterranean cabbage', etc...
I'm not exactly sure what it should be called since it's a hybrid, but unless you'll be standing at your local grocer or seed distributor demanding access to this green goblin, the name's not so important. In this picture it looks like a conch shell, and it REALLY does look like that in actuality. It looks like a vegetable that deserves undue attention, such as a song about it, or at the very least, a blog mention.
When we first saw it at the market I genuinely thought it was too pretty to eat. We passed by it for a while, pointed at it, made admiring sounds and nodded approvingly, but didn't buy any right away.
We got over that.
We bought some a while back and cooked it up; it was very good -- more flavorful than cauliflower but without the tell-tale broccoli taste (I find that broccoli can sometimes taste like cabbage, especially if it's old).
When raw, this remarkable veggie's chartreuse green color is arresting, and the whorl pattern is hypnotic. Unfortunately this color fades to a light yellowish green when it's been cooked, but that doesn't make it any less desireable.
I hope it makes its way to the U.S. at some point. Or maybe not, so then you'll have to come here and find other astonishing things, in addition to odd edibles.
You can go HERE to read a good article on the fractal nature of this vegetable. I thought it was interesting.
http://www.fourmilab.ch/images/Romanesco/
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2 comments:
Hey, you guys, I've found this beautiful cauliflower/broccoli cross at the St. Paul Farmers' Market, so your markets aren't so special ;-) In fact, I bought a small head at the Mississippi Market Coop a couple of weeks ago (unfortunately, it promptly became buried in the veggie drawer, so it may end up filling the garbage can rather than our tummies). As I recall, there were 3 unusual varieties available that day, including a Cheddar Cheese-colored cauliflower (typical shape, different color) and another "odd" variety, but I can't remember right now how it was different.
Speaking of Farmers Markets -- we have about 4 more weeks of the Winter Market (Saturdays from 9-12) before we transition to the spring/summer market. One entrepreneurial grower is already selling hydroponic tomatoes, English cucumbers, and small peppers, but otherwise it's the usual winter stuff (meat and poultry, bread, honey, cheese, eggs, etc.). Can't wait for the first local produce (grown in dirt, that is!).
Keep up the great blog! Cyndy
I guess you DID decide it was too pretty to eat. I reckon it's not so attractive any more though.. Get a new one and think of us when you have it, alright? It's good that you have them there, too. I wondered why I hadn't ever seen them in the SPFM -- I thought perhaps the MN season was too short, but then again, if the season is long enough to grow a tomato, broccoli should be a cinch, right? Maybe they took a while to catch on.
I hear you're in for another dose of snow (CNN is on in the oher room as I type this). We've been a bit spoiled by the mild weather; I picked some baby carrots and radichio (I have no idea how to spell that) in our garden just last week. The ramps have come and gone already, and unless we move quickly, the wild asparagus will also have finished! We're not quite in full spring veggie mode yet (no local young peas or berries yet or anything like that), but lettuces abound. The berries will come in early May -- I've found lots of pick-your-own places to check out. maybe we can get some while B. is here.
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