The asparagus my mom made for dinner reminded me of what I should have known: it's asparagus season!
How do I know this? Because I've been to the Stockton State Asparagus Festival, held every April in California. Ever been to an asparagus festival? It's full of asparagus. Crates and crates of asparagus. Asparagus cookbooks. Asparagus souvenirs. People dressed as asparagus.
If you are perhaps now thinking to yourself that it's a maybe just a little odd that I've been to an asparagus festival, let me point out two additional facts:
1) I did not go to the Stockton State Asparagus Festival during the 10+ years of my adulthood spent in the vicinity. Nope. I went as a 14 year old high school student from New Jersey; and
2) I don't actually like asparagus.
(Nor do I like frog's legs, which were being sold at one of the food stalls. But years later, when I attended the more famous Gilroy Garlic Festival, I did try alligator at one of the food stalls there. As well as garlic ice cream, which is surprisingly good. But I have no memory of asparagus ice cream. Of course, perhaps I've blocked it out????)