Dispatch from the field: Union Square Greenmarket.

I broke one of my own cardinal rules on Saturday when I arrived at the Greenmarket after 9 AM. On the subway down to Union Square, I consoled myself, repeating the mantra: "It's Memorial Day; they're all in the Hamptons" over and over again - like if I said it enough times, it would turn out to be true. It didn't.

But it was totally worth fighting the crowds to get to the first asparagus of the season (even if it cost a whopping $8/pound).

I'm hoping the ramps hold out one more week, since the two pounds I bought for pickling were a great success, and I want to repeat the activity this weekend. And this time, I'll do the whole canning thing, for keeps.