Brats Over Fiddleheads

Brats over fiddleheads. A new architectural fusion nightmare? Stop the insanity!

I know I promised Spring treats like Fiddleheads, but sometimes, life throws you a curve ball. Or a 96 mile an hour split-finger pitch that still looks fast on slow-mo. The fiddleheads didn't look great, it's early for soft-shells and then there's the start of the Baseball season. Spring is all about anticipation. Did you know more grills are sold in the New England area than anywhere else in the US?

After seeing a Foodnetwork.com show on hot dogs, cleverly timed to coincide with the start of the baseball season, we got to thinking about brats. And, on the way back from watching the Marathon, we passed by a local watering hole announcing a $5 brat and beer special. A trip to our favorite gourmet grocer was clearly in order. By the way, Alton Brown is right, make friends with your butcher - You will not be sorry!

Special cuts, seasonal items, advice on how to cook them...all there for the asking. Our guys at Savenor's have house-made weisswurst, bratwurst, and much more. Weisswurst is a lighter sausage whose primary component is veal. Some pork and light spicing is added. It's not garlicky or smoked as other sausages are. Light and delicious, just savory enough. A perfect Spring treat.

Fire up (or plug in) the grill and try this:

Gently prick weisswurst. Braise them in a good beer, one chopped onion, and one granny smith apple. Let wurst (or brats)simmer for 30 minutes or an hour. Then grill and enjoy with some Trackleman's or whole grain mustard. Enjoy with some grilled veggies, cornichons, crusty bread, and of course, a beer.

If weisswurst is not gourmet enough for you how about these for your ballpark nosh? How about ahi tuna , olive and orange zest sandwich (AT&T Park), Cuban Panini (Miller Park), Chocolate covered cheesecake (Great American Ball park), Crabcakes (Camden yards), Clam chowder at Fenway?