Book of Days Tales

Today is the birthday (1577) of Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish Baroque painter, and a proponent of an extravagant Baroque style that emphasized movement, color, and sensuality. He is well known for his Counter-Reformation altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, and paintings of religious, mythological, and allegorical subjects.

Hop shoots are an exotic delicacy from Flanders, if you can get them. Specialty markets in Antwerp sell them in season for as much as $500 per kilo, but if you happen to know a farmer who grows hops, you are in luck because the new shoots that sprout in the Spring from mature plants are routinely snapped off to encourage the production of more hops. They can be harvested like asparagus.

Plunge the shoots into boiling salted water and cook for about 2 minutes. Meanwhile lightly poach some eggs – depending on your guests. Two per person makes a nice brunch. Lay some slices of smoked salmon on a plate, place the poached eggs on the salmon, and put the shoots either on the side or on top of the eggs. Break the yolks and let them run over the shoots.