The national obsession with asparagus.
This week a newspaper in Munich was promoting a feature on “the first asparagus (where it comes from, how it grows, how much it costs).” Never mind that German asparagus season is still a month away – anticipation is part of the pleasure.
Oh, I miss Spargelzeit! It’s hilarious, isn’t it? Spargelkremezuppe is awesome but the national obsession makes a bowl of it even tastier. Enjoy!
That just cheered me up. Gotta love my home country. Especially during Spargelzeit and I am going to be back home in May just in time before the season ends.
I find it amusing that they make such a big deal over the asparagus, especially the white one. But perhaps I am missing something??
I can’t believe it’s here already…I thought we’d at least have easter chocolate time as a transition, but I guess as soon as the krapfen go away, the spargel come out!
ja wohl! It’s almost Spargel season! Germans love their Spargel!
I was so amazed while visiting Switzerland in March 2008 with how many different types of meals they were offering with asparagus. It’s simply amazing, but good food for sure. It seems we have them nearly year round but we don’t buy them all of the time as they definitely have their season..
Can’t wait to see if you take photos of more or make up or eat out with asparagus…
Die Vorfreude ist doch die schönste Freude!
I’m eagerly awaiting it, too. Might even try cooking with it this year.
@Cliff – I’m surprised you’ve never made it before. Maybe I’ll do a how-to-cook-white-asparagus post this season.
For years I couldn’t understand the frenzy caused by the mere mention of Spargel, especially in southwestern Germany where I live (apparently the very best white asparagus comes from Bruchsal, but whatever). I never really got a taste sensation out of asparagus; seemed too flavourless to me compared to lots of other veggies, even when it was the really good stuff prepared expertly. I’ve come to appreciate, though, not so much the flavor but rather the way the asparagus season is celebrated, with wonderfully creative dishes, with good wines, in beautiful restaurant settings or at a nicely set table at home. So, looking forward to it now myself! 🙂
Have a nice weekend, Jul.
Michael
Hello 🙂 I have grown accustomed now to all sorts of “interesting” German flavours but white asparagus I just DO NOT GET. In the UK we grow the most fantastic green asparagus, so the white stuff is to me just bland and stringy and, well, yeuch. Obviously I’ll give it another go this year… just in case.
@Frau Dietz – I’d definitely encourage you to give it another try. The good stuff isn’t stringy at all. I don’t think it’s quite as heavenly as the hype would have one believe (really, what vegetable could live up to all this?), but I find it can still be pretty tasty when done well.
And if you still don’t like it, well, there are always strawberries.
Oh now the strawberries, you are right, you see THOSE are something to get REALLY worked up about!! 🙂
I love white asparagus, which is really hard and very expensive in Canada. I’ve found a new Swabish recipe for white asparagus so can’t wait to try it.
yes! this cracks me up!! and quite often I have my mind in the gutter and can’t help but see something besides veggies in these thick, pale asparagus stalks. lol
This is awesome & funny! I love asparagus & ironically, am German American (real name, Heidi). Pennsylvania Deutsch, so I grew up eating peas & knepp, apple schnitzes, pork & sauerkraut, yadda yadda. Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies. Now I know why!
Hi, I love asparagus season of germany.
Did they talk any about why it makes your pee smell? I would think it would be a natural topic when discussing asparagus.
ICLW 149
hi, I found your blog via ICLW and I immediately bookmarked it! I grew up in Germany and I may spend the next several hours (or days… or weeks) reading your posts and looking longingly at the pictures. A trip back is at the top of my “things to save for” list but in the mean time I’ll be visiting your blog a lot. 🙂
@Aubre – That’s definitely a topic that comes up a lot during asparagus season, alternately referred to as the season of stinky pee.
How funny. I was way to young to be aware of any national obsession like that when I lived there.
ICLW #36
I’m just waiting for that awesome song to start playing over the loudspeakers at Edeka, “Oh, du schöne Spargelzeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!” Is it just me, or does it seem like it started early this year?
And I am more of a fan of the green, but Cliff doesn’t care for it. We can enjoy the white together, and the national fixation is pretty funny.
This is something I really miss in California – the white asparagus. Yes, a lot is in the anticipation, and then suddenly on the farmers markets there is an abundance of it. Last time I was back in Germany it was asparagus season and we ate so much of the white stuff!!! Yummy!!
Thank you for stopping by my blog! I definitely will come back to yours.