Food question....namely asparagus?

bobbiwoz · Feb 13, 2016

We got off the Wonder just last Sunday, and I had a couple of meals that had asparagus. We just had lunch at home, roast chicken with asparagus, and something just popped into my head. On the ship, there were either 2 or 3 spears, at home, I noticed 5-6 spears per plate.

Just wondering how many spears of asparagus comprise a serving for you at home?

I am not complaining about DCL's food, this disparity popped into my head as I looked around our table!

Bobbi

southerngirl528 · Feb 13, 2016

Funny question, Bobbiwoz!! Thanks for the chuckle! I didn't know WHAT I was going to read when I opened your post. :teeth:

I think it entirely depends on how big the spears are. If they are huge, like I have usually seen onboard the ships, it will be only say, 3 or 4. If it's baby asparagus, a serving could easily be a dozen.

southerngirl528 · Feb 13, 2016

If I loved the asparagus onboard and didn't have enough I would just ask for more. I HATED, hated, hated asparagus until I finally had some barely cooked, baby asparagus. Now I have added it to my "likes" but ONLY if it is very tender baby asparagus and I sauté it for only about 3 minutes tops in a mixture of butter, olive oil and minced fresh garlic. Now THAT's good asparagus!!! LOL!!! I still won't eat those overcooked anemic, flaccid spears of asparagus anywhere else……..

BadPinkTink · Feb 13, 2016

bobbiwoz said:
We got off the Wonder just last Sunday, and I had a couple of meals that had asparagus. We just had lunch at home, roast chicken with asparagus, and something just popped into my head. On the ship, there were either 2 or 3 spears, at home, I noticed 5-6 spears per plate.

Just wondering how many spears of asparagus comprise a serving for you at home?

I am not complaining about DCL's food, this disparity popped into my head as I looked around our table!

Bobbi

Having worked in the catering industry, I can tell you that plates are food are costed to the exact price. Meaning that they would know exactly how much a spear of asparagus would cost per plate. They would work out how much the plate of food would cost per person and then add on their percentage profit. Thats how they know how much to charge per person per meal. If the cost came under budget they would add a spear of asparagus, if the cost came over budget they would remove a spear of asparagus.

At home you just go to the store and buy what you know people will eat. For example, you had asparagus on the ship so when you can home you went out and bought some. You don't really worry about the cost per person per meal, you just know what you can spend overall for a meal or that you usually buy around the same weight or size of vegetables.

Maggie'sMom · Feb 13, 2016

I think it depends partly on the size of the spears. When I've purchased asparagus, it's priced per pound so the cost per spear is less for the thin stalks versus the thicker stalks. They'd probably put a couple more on if they are real thin versus thicker.

But I have to laugh cause in our house, a serving of asparagus is how much can one of us load onto our plate before the other notices and protests. My DD and I are huge asparagus fans and we can down a pound between the two of us in the blink of an eye. I can't wait until asparagus is back in season and I can get a pound for $1.

bobbiwoz · Feb 13, 2016

wow, $1 a pound! Ours were $1.99 a pound, thick, but definitely not tough!

Maggie'sMom · Feb 13, 2016

bobbiwoz said:
wow, $1 a pound! Ours were $1.99 a pound, thick, but definitely not tough!

That price doesn't last for long, but I'll see it as a sale price for a couple weeks each spring. Just when asparagus is in peak season. And we'll eat asparagus pretty much each night those weeks.

Otimon · Feb 13, 2016

Had some for lunch at Cabanas our last trip - as many as we wanted. As I recall, they were delicious!

Expatriat · Feb 13, 2016

Cabanas is different. In the MDRs, my impression has always been that they are not overly generous with veggie portions, no matter their cost. I have never asked for more, but often have to chuckle at the tiny veggie portions served with the main entrees.

kiford · Feb 13, 2016

Hard to say. I usually cut them in 1-2" pieces so they fit into the steamer better. I fill the steamer to the point where it looks right to me and then DH and I split it (with a bit of butter, white balsamic and pepper). I suppose it's possible that we eat anywhere from 5-8 spears each - maybe even more - but that also has to take into account that I may cut a large portion of the end of the spears before cooking if they are particularly think because that part gets a bit woody. I think it partially depends on what else we're having with it. If the rest of the meal is large we'd have less asparagus; if small, then more. Maybe the short answer is "whatever we feel like".

OKW Lover · Feb 13, 2016

bobbiwoz said:
Just wondering how many spears of asparagus comprise a serving for you at home?

The fewer the better. Preferably none.

bobbiwoz · Feb 13, 2016

Haha, OKW Lover!

Plaid Princess · Feb 13, 2016

bobbiwoz said:
Just wondering how many spears of asparagus comprise a serving for you at home?

The number that come in the bunch at the farmers market. :thumbsup2

Yum!

dyson0715 · Feb 13, 2016

A bushel..honestly I don't eat it that much to notice...I did count my corn, 53 kernels at home 41 kernels at sea.. :magnify:

MunFam · Feb 13, 2016

Maggie'sMom said:
That price doesn't last for long, but I'll see it as a sale price for a couple weeks each spring. Just when asparagus is in peak season. And we'll eat asparagus pretty much each night those weeks.

We do this too. I buy a pound per person...per night that we are going to eat it.

ImprovGal · Feb 14, 2016

I find that at least for the dinner entrees, vegetable servings end up being quite skimpy. They showcase the protein main and starchy sides abound, but non-starchy vegetables are often relegated to garnish status. Even the vegetarian entrees are usually skimpy on the non-starchy vegetables.

bobbiwoz · Feb 14, 2016

Improv Gal, you are right, it's more of a garnish than a portion!

I really enjoy asparagus. I'll share another memory. NYE, 1969 at Trader Vic's in the Plaza hotel, NYC. We were 3 newlywed couples, from Nj, wanting to spend NYE in Times Square! Asparagus were offered as a side, we all added the probably $3.99 price. We each got 2-3 spears. So 47 years later, maybe I should not be surprised that DCL took their cue from that venerable restaurant!

In NJ and PA, I had a small plot of asparagus in my garden, here in Ohio, the soil is different, I have not been able to get more than 3-8 spears a year, I have given up. Is there any wonder, we hope to retire to south Jersey?

Bobbi

Maggie'sMom · Feb 14, 2016

bobbiwoz said:
In NJ and PA, I had a small plot of asparagus in my garden, here in Ohio, the soil is different, I have not been able to get more than 3-8 spears a year, I have given up. Is there any wonder, we hope to retire to south Jersey?

Bobbi

Have you amended the soil in.your asparagus patch? I'm in central Ohio. I don't grow it myself but I have a few friends that do. To be successful, they had to amend the soil significantly. The issue is too much clay in the soil, my scourge in all my gardens. They dug out the clay type soil and brought in a better top soil, and added sand to the soil if I'm not mistaken.

kiford · Feb 14, 2016

bobbiwoz said:
maybe I should not be surprised that DCL took their cue from that venerable restaurant!

At least on DCL you can ask if you can get more and they might oblige. On one of our cruises, one of our dinner mates didn't like the vegetable that came with her entree so asked if she could substitute asparagus instead. Our server brought out an entire plate of it and she shared with the whole table.

Food question....namely asparagus?

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