December 19, 2003
brussel sprouts
Here in the suburbs we rarely have the opportunity to see the brussel sprout in its natural form. This is not a photo of an unattractive, handmade Christmas ornament, though I will certainly use it as such, for awhile. It is a bevy of brussel sprouts growing out of a stalk. They are not attached with glue, rather, with true umbilica.
The full length of the stalk is about three feet. Impressive. Throw a few baby eggplants, and a kumquat or two around it, and you have something spectacular for your dining room table. Unfortunately, my table is unavailable for such a display, due to the Wrapping Production Line. You will have to do without that photo and use your own ingenuity .
You might ask where I found such a thing. I bought mine (and there were a heap) at my local supermarket, not the expensive, organic one either. Maybe this is the latest veggie iteration, like heirloom tomatoes. I asked the produce manager if he had ever seen the likes of this. Even he, who hangs around vegetables regularly, hadn't.
Denoument: a regular pint of individual brussel sprouts (about 15) costs $2.39. This fabulous piece of nature, home to 50 or 60 sprouts, was $2.99. As I always say, thank god it's for sale.
