maxine in ri > wrote:

> How do you pick good asparagus (I'm not going to waste my money again
> on the iffy stuff)? How much of the bottom do you break off? How do
> you know _where_ to break it off?

Your asparagus may have been poor-quality one, of maybe you didn't peel
it enough. Last month, I have posted a quotation from Julia Child on
how and why to peel asparagus:
<http://groups.google.com/group/rec.food.cooking/msg/327614c5ffbd133a>.

Victor