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topinambour (toh-pee-nam-boor)
: jerusalem artichoke, sun choke, helianthus tuberosus
Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav file
Pendant la guerre, manger des topinambours a permis d'éviter la famine.
During the war, eating jerusalem artichokes helped avoid famine.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
After what seemed like months I finally received the package of seeds I’d ordered. Ripping open the box, I reached for packets of maïs doux, épinard géant d’hiver, amaranthe rouge and ail chinois. It was strange how such a small order was delivered in such a large box–unusual for a company practicing sustainability.
Flattening the boîte for recycling, an earthy scent arose tickling my nose. Reaching into the package I pulled out a lump of dirt. More dirt followed and what looked like crottes! A thought crossed my mind: Perhaps one could go too far on this path of permaculture? Things were getting a little too natural for even my sensibilities!
I grabbed the receipt, my eyes traveling down the list to a vaguely familiar word: topinambour. Must have ordered them during my latest seed shopping spree… Why? Like a patient waking from a retail therapy coma, I had no answers—only a bizarre purchase to account for.
I took out a few more tubers, examining them. No two were alike. And which way was up? Which end was the root end for planting?
The forest for the trees–or the tubers from the tiles…
With soiled hands, I pounded the keyboard for information. In addition to crotte-like tubers, an internet search brought up pages and pages of bright yellow sunflowers. The tournesols were only too familiar. I’d seen them in cozy French gardens and even in charming municipal displays. How I’d yearned for them, trying in vain to locate the exact flowers in seed catalogues.
But what were they doing here, in a search for ugly tubers or topinambours?
Slowly connecting the dots, I realized I’d accidentally happened upon them—right in my mailbox–after ordering a légume ancien–forgotten vegetables our ancestors once grew! Next came the quest to know everything possible about this absolutely charming vegetable, the Jerusalem artichoke (a.k.a. “The sunchoke” “the Pear of the Earth” and, my favorite, “The Truffle of Canada”).
Not only were the "sunroot" flowers beautiful to look at, they were, according to the internet, a cinch to grow in almost any soil (even in sand!) and they came with a host of benefits: they can be eaten raw or cooked, diabetics favor them for the inulin, which helps diminish or eliminate the need for insulin, neighbors plant them as “privacy shields” (the plants shoot up quickly, as high as 10-12 feet), animals love them (good for chickens!) and survivalists plant them in their yards. “When the supermarket shelves are empty,” one gardener said, “I’ll have 3 years worth of food!”
Photographed by Paul Fenwick, 19th March 2005
Bon, one could get tired of even “truffles”… still with their golden blossoms and nutty-tasting tubers, what wasn’t there to love about these so-called Pears of the Earth? An internet forum revealed the downside: 1) intestinal response (gas) and 2) the tubers have an invasive characteristic. As little as a portion of one tuber could yield dozens and dozens and dozens more. Practically impossible to harvest every single one, the plant lives on to infinity and beyond—sometimes invading neighbor’s gardens!
After reading all the horror stories, including the tuber’s attractiveness to pigs—of which we have many (a serious sanglier problem), I went to sleep and had nightmares—so worried was I about the one or two Jerusalem artichokes I’d already planted, a vision of endless sunflowers having goaded me on and on. But where had I planted them? I could not exactly remember. Tossing and turning all night long, drenched in sweat, I tugged at the sunchokes in vain. No matter how deep I dug, in my dreams, more came up—totally invading my garden as they marched their gnarled “feet”, toward my neighbor’s yard! I woke several times in the night, drenched, only to fall back asleep to the same tuber war! Reaching, grasping, yanking, I could not oust the invader!
The next day, while serving coffee to our especially animated guest (a specialist on planting grapevines), I talked about the Jerusalem artichokes I’d ordered.
“An excellent and advantageous food!” he chirped, only to grow uncharacteristically quiet. A peaceful look transformed his face and when next the farmer looked up he said:
“Thanks in part to your country and to the topinambour, France was saved during the war… from invasion and famine.
It was yet another coincidence, to be holding this homely tuber on such a memorable day: Armistice, or Veterans Day.
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French Vocabulary
la crotte = dog doo
le maïs doux = sweet corn
l'épinard géant d’hiver = giant winter spinach
amaranthe rouge = red amaranthus
ail (m) chinois = Chinese garlic
la boîte = box
le tournesol = sunflower
bon = well (after all)
le sanglier = wild boar
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Hi Kristin,
Yes, I have won prizes but nothing big. It’s fun to win, though, no matter what the prize.
I planted the artichoke tubers that you mention in your story. They did well and I enjoyed the flowers, but I didn’t really like the taste of them, no matter how I cooked them. But, I can appreciate that they would make a good source of food during war time. They are easy to grow and reproduce easily and well. My heart goes out to all who are affected by war.
Hi Kristin,
Yes, I have won prizes but nothing big. It’s fun to win, though, no matter what the prize.
I planted the artichoke tubers that you mention in your story. They did well and I enjoyed the flowers, but I didn’t really like the taste of them, no matter how I cooked them. But, I can appreciate that they would make a good source of food during war time. They are easy to grow and reproduce easily and well. My heart goes out to all who are affected by war.
I won a huge mortadella when the guinea pig I bet on went into a numbered hole on a huge spinning wheel game at an Italian sagra…food festival. The guinea pig, loose, is spun and seeks a shelter, which is a numbered hole and he can choose which one he wishes. Mine won. Great fun.
I won a huge mortadella when the guinea pig I bet on went into a numbered hole on a huge spinning wheel game at an Italian sagra…food festival. The guinea pig, loose, is spun and seeks a shelter, which is a numbered hole and he can choose which one he wishes. Mine won. Great fun.
When I was a teenager, I entered a contest on the back of Milkduds to describe a drawing on there. One of the prizes was a new sewing machine. I won a book of elephant jokes, twice. lol To say I was disappointed was an understatement!
When I was a teenager, I entered a contest on the back of Milkduds to describe a drawing on there. One of the prizes was a new sewing machine. I won a book of elephant jokes, twice. lol To say I was disappointed was an understatement!
I won a trip to San Francisco turned down because I won it after 9/11. I am a Cowardly Lion. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you. annfesATyahooDOTcom
I won a trip to San Francisco turned down because I won it after 9/11. I am a Cowardly Lion. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you. annfesATyahooDOTcom
Dear Kristin,
A couple of years ago I won a beautiful handmade quilt in the Civic Center Quilt Raffle. I had been looking for a hanging quilt for our bedroom eve since i one I had for years became so terribly faded that it was no longer useable. It’s the loveliest thing I have ever won!
Dear Kristin,
A couple of years ago I won a beautiful handmade quilt in the Civic Center Quilt Raffle. I had been looking for a hanging quilt for our bedroom eve since i one I had for years became so terribly faded that it was no longer useable. It’s the loveliest thing I have ever won!
I won the heart of my personal”Officer and Gentleman.”
I won the heart of my personal”Officer and Gentleman.”
Voilà … My last recent meal in Senlis at Restaurant de la Porte Bellon, I asked about a word on the menu “TOURNAMBOUR”. The server described it as a type of ancient potato. Now I see it again, gaining in popularity. The other mystery word was “quetch”. Any insight on that one?
Voilà … My last recent meal in Senlis at Restaurant de la Porte Bellon, I asked about a word on the menu “TOURNAMBOUR”. The server described it as a type of ancient potato. Now I see it again, gaining in popularity. The other mystery word was “quetch”. Any insight on that one?
I think the only thing I have ever won was a wine tasting contest. We tasted 6 wines (blind) and had to pick the wine veritals. I guessed all 6 grapes and won a lovely basket containing snack goodies, a bottle of wine, and 2 long necklaces with little “gold” charms. It was a lot of fun guessing the grapes that made up the wines.
I think the only thing I have ever won was a wine tasting contest. We tasted 6 wines (blind) and had to pick the wine veritals. I guessed all 6 grapes and won a lovely basket containing snack goodies, a bottle of wine, and 2 long necklaces with little “gold” charms. It was a lot of fun guessing the grapes that made up the wines.
I was entered into a contest to win a cruise, and the consolation prize was 12 boxes of See’s Candies!
I was entered into a contest to win a cruise, and the consolation prize was 12 boxes of See’s Candies!
Yes, I won a trip to Paris . . . doesn’t get any better than that:):):) Thank you for bringing beauty to my day ~
Yes, I won a trip to Paris . . . doesn’t get any better than that:):):) Thank you for bringing beauty to my day ~
On my Birthday last year I was given the change ($5) from a man I helped get a “speedier” drink at the bar (since I had a prominent seat for ordering). I never gambled before, but decided that since I had “free” money that maybe it was a good time to try. I deposited my $5, and with the encouragement of friends, I won $60 (but, it was my resolve that won the money…my friends cheered me on to win more). I didn’t ant to press my luck…as soon as I won, I stopped. A $55 win was great gift for me on my Birthday!!!
On my Birthday last year I was given the change ($5) from a man I helped get a “speedier” drink at the bar (since I had a prominent seat for ordering). I never gambled before, but decided that since I had “free” money that maybe it was a good time to try. I deposited my $5, and with the encouragement of friends, I won $60 (but, it was my resolve that won the money…my friends cheered me on to win more). I didn’t ant to press my luck…as soon as I won, I stopped. A $55 win was great gift for me on my Birthday!!!
I won in sea-side Casino
(90 €) !!
I won in sea-side Casino
(90 €) !!
Yes, I won a Hallmark award for an oil painting while in high school. It was a gold key award plus $100!
Yes, I won a Hallmark award for an oil painting while in high school. It was a gold key award plus $100!
I won a VCR at work years ago. I didn’t have one, so I was really excited to win it.
I won a VCR at work years ago. I didn’t have one, so I was really excited to win it.
Hmm… I won a beauty pageant when I was 20 years old. I’m embarrassed to admit to it now. 🙂
Hmm… I won a beauty pageant when I was 20 years old. I’m embarrassed to admit to it now. 🙂
Yes! I had forgotten about this. I won $1000 gift card from Marshall Field’s in Chicago. I was in my early thirties and had just bought a townhouse = broke. I used the money to buy a lamp, a winter coat and probably other things for my new home.
Yes! I had forgotten about this. I won $1000 gift card from Marshall Field’s in Chicago. I was in my early thirties and had just bought a townhouse = broke. I used the money to buy a lamp, a winter coat and probably other things for my new home.
For Anne Marie, a quetsch is a kind of plum. A Tarte aux Quetsches is a common Alsatian dessert.
For Anne Marie, a quetsch is a kind of plum. A Tarte aux Quetsches is a common Alsatian dessert.
Once I won a Polaroid camera. It was an early version which was almost as big as a basketball, not very handy for spontaneous shutter-bugging.
Once I won a Polaroid camera. It was an early version which was almost as big as a basketball, not very handy for spontaneous shutter-bugging.
I have never won anything apart from the confidence and trust of my lovely wife and our friends.
I have never won anything apart from the confidence and trust of my lovely wife and our friends.
I entered a photo into a contest for the calendar for the GRReat organization, golden retriever rescue and education and it was chosen to be the 2015 March dog. We foster golden retrievers . Love the goldens.
I entered a photo into a contest for the calendar for the GRReat organization, golden retriever rescue and education and it was chosen to be the 2015 March dog. We foster golden retrievers . Love the goldens.
Bonjour! I have not won yet in my life, but then I have not try either. Bonne chance.
Bonjour! I have not won yet in my life, but then I have not try either. Bonne chance.
I won a complete Thanksgiving dinner for 4 at the hospital that I was working at one year and remembered that I said to myself, “If I win this , I’ll give it away to the women’s shelter”. Well, of course, then I did win it and did give it to the local shelter. I did keep the bottle of wine though!
I won a complete Thanksgiving dinner for 4 at the hospital that I was working at one year and remembered that I said to myself, “If I win this , I’ll give it away to the women’s shelter”. Well, of course, then I did win it and did give it to the local shelter. I did keep the bottle of wine though!
yes, yes, yes! a few years ago when I was a mere lad of 87, I won a contest sponsored by French word a day. the prize was a wonderful old, old, KEY. When Kristin and her Beautiful Mother selected my entry, it changed my life. I heard from so many of the family members of French Word A Day. It was the happiest time of my life. I doubt that there is another Blog with such vibrant readers and members. let’s wish her well and long life,
yes, yes, yes! a few years ago when I was a mere lad of 87, I won a contest sponsored by French word a day. the prize was a wonderful old, old, KEY. When Kristin and her Beautiful Mother selected my entry, it changed my life. I heard from so many of the family members of French Word A Day. It was the happiest time of my life. I doubt that there is another Blog with such vibrant readers and members. let’s wish her well and long life,
I usually win $2 on lottery tickets
I usually win $2 on lottery tickets
nope! the only time I’ve ever kind of won something was just a couple matching numbers in a group pool for a powerball lotto once, so I think we each won like $3. But I still consider myself a very lucky person because of the personal opportunities and happiness I am fortunate to have.
nope! the only time I’ve ever kind of won something was just a couple matching numbers in a group pool for a powerball lotto once, so I think we each won like $3. But I still consider myself a very lucky person because of the personal opportunities and happiness I am fortunate to have.