Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Stalking the Wild White Asparagus in Germany in Springtime






German phrase: ach der lieber
English translation: Oh, heavens!



Everyone knows about the famous Bier Gartens and Oktoberfest festivals in Germany... where Germans and tourists drink huge steins of beer and large pretzels. It's pretty standard fare, when in Germany, drink beer, eat weiner snitzel and spaetzle and pretzels. There are also castles to visit and if you go during Christmastime, the Christmas markets, similar to our flea markets but so much more fun.

Why not do something different on your next trip and stalk the wild white asparagus? You could also include a visit to a spa as part of your vacation experience and a trip to the winery. Springtime is a great time to visit Germany, flowers are blooming and the weather is warm and sunny.

In Baden-Württemberg, Mother Nature nurtures feelings of well-being by providing beneficial climatic conditions, thermal waters, hay, aromatic herbs and fresh produce for use in vitality-enhancing cuisine plus beautiful scenery.

Baden-Wuerttemberg is Germany’s third largest state and home to the famed Black Forest. It also features premier spas such as Baden-Baden, Cuckoo Clocks and has one of the most productive asparagus regions in Germany. Located in southern Germany and west of Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg also borders France in the west and Switzerland and the Alps in the south. So it is a great jumping off point in Europe to start your journey...

In Germany, the arrival of asparagus, or Spargel, is an eagerly anticipated sign of spring. During the season, which lasts from April until mid-June, almost every eatery in Germany, from the tiniest Brauhaus to the most elegant restaurant offers a Spargelkarte, a special asparagus menu, in addition to their regular menu. Although there are variations depending on the region, most have the same staples: asparagus with butter or hollandais sauce with cooked potatoes, and asparagus with salmon or ham. You can also choose between a serving of one pound or a half pound of asparagus, some restaurants even offer an all-you-can-eat feast. In Baden-Wuerttemberg a regional speciality awaits the hungry guest: Black Forest ham, a spiced and smoked version of ham.

In Germany, they feed good... in plain English... and seem to feed more than three times a day between breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between teas... morning, afternoon and evening.

Baden-Wuerttemberg has established an "Asparagus Road" which winds through some of the most famous asparagus producing towns in the region, including Schwetzingen, Reilingen, Karlsruhe, and Rastatt. Along with asparagus farms, you can enjoy various asparagus festivals and local asparagus dishes found along this scenic route. In fact, the sandy soil around Schwetzingen in Baden-Wuertemberg is ideal for growing asparagus.

Once a year during the asparagus season, Schwetzingen devotes an entire day to the "royal vegetable." On "Asparagus Saturday" (May 3) a plethora of food stalls tempt visitors with asparagus-based delicacies, while dancing and music keep you entertained. There is an asparagus peeling competition, and every year the program includes the crowning of the asparagus king. www.schwetzingen.de (German only)

The Pfaelzer Forest in Baden-Wuerttemberg's northwest corner is famous for its asparagus production and the spring festival celebrating this. In Buechenau the asparagus season is celebrated with creative and traditional asparagus treats, presented by local and international exhibitors from May 31 to June 2. www.harmonie-buechenau.de (German only)

Europe's largest asparagus festival however is held in Bruchsal, near Stuttgart, which lies on the Upper Rhine plain. Local and international vendors offer visitors a tasty delight from May 16 - 18. Visitors can also admire the baroque palace of Bruchsal with its magnificent Balthasar Neumann staircase. www.germany-tourism.de

Along with the delicious asparagus dishes goes another specialty of Baden-Wuerttemberg: the famous wines of the region. Mostly known for its famous red wines, such as "Trollinger" and "Spätburgunder," the region also offers white wines such as "Riesling". The main production area is along the Neckar river between Stuttgart and Heilbronn. More wine is consumed in this region than anywhere else in Germany - actually twice as much! The grape varieties of the red wine Trollinger, Schwarzriesling and Lemberger are well-known even beyond Baden-Wuerttemberg's borders and have received various international awards. www.tourismus-bw.co.uk

For more information about this region, visit www.tourism-bw.com.

http://www.cometogermany.com/places_to_visit.htm

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