Sparrowgrass

On April 20th three hundred and forty-three years ago, Samuel Pepys also bought some asparagus, probably the first he'd seen that year (they didn't have the stuff air-freighted from Peru in those days). He mentions the price probably because he thought it expensive: "So home, and having brought home with me from Fenchurch Street a hundred of sparrowgrass, 1 cost 18d. We had them and a little bit of salmon, which my wife had a mind to, cost 3s."

His 100 spears cost him 18d in old money - erm, that's 7.5 of your new pence. I found these in Tattie Shaws yesterday (a tad more pricey than in 1667 but well worth it) and also picked up some fresh yeast in Valvona & Crolla, so it had to be home-made pizza with asparagus on top.

Must dash, I can smell that it's time to get them out of the oven - yum!