This may come as something of a surprise, but ramps are some of the best linguists in the vegetable history books.
People often forget that it was a Ramp that wrote a critical essay in The Daily Antioxidant in 1996, critiquing and forever changing the instantaneous halitosis of onion-to-onion communication in the Internet Age. Indeed, most accredited universities have at least two or three Ramps serving on its Board of Trustees, often with a direct line of influence on vegetable curricula. Ramps are thought leaders, go-getters, and remarkably talented backgammon players (for some reason).
The Truth About Ramps
- The plant known as “Chicageu” in the native tongues of Illinois in the 17th Century (a.k.a. – “wild nodding onion”) influenced the naming of the city, but more recent research has shown that the onions for which Chicago was labeled were actually ramps
- Ramps are deeply embedded in Appalachian folklore, most notably for the plant’s pungency
- Ramp Festivals are surprisingly common annual affairs in America, with such festivals regularly taking place in West Virginia, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania
