Cover photo by PhotographyByMK

Lucky for us it’s spargel season soon, and in Germany we are surrounded by chefs and restaurants who prepare incredibly tasty dishes with this vegetable that was once for kings. Spargel is a delicious, white asparagus that can be found in Germany from April to July.

Spargel can be made alone or in soups, quiches, as toppings for meat, desserts and even ice cream. This gem of a vegetable is highly celebrated in Baden-Württemberg and can be found at almost every farmer’s market, store and restaurant in season.

Fests and Events

Büchenauer Asparagus Festival – Eat like a King Fest
The Büchenauer Asparagus Festival is the most famous and well-attended spargel fests in Baden-Württemberg. This fest will have an all-male harmony choir. The streets of Büchenau are lined with an assortment of restaurants and passionate chefs who will be serving regional and authentic spargel dishes. Hoepfner beer will have a booth as well as specialty wines from the region.

When: April 25, 4:30 p.m. and April 26, 11 a.m.

Location: Büchenau Baierhäusel 1, 76646 Büchenau

How to Get There:  Büchenau is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes northwest of Stuttgart, 1 hour and 20 minutes southeast of Kaiserslautern and 1 hour and 30 minutes south of Wiesbaden.

Gourmet – Tournament with Schönbuch Chefs Karl Allgaeuer

On June 6, 2015 at 6 p.m., ten local chefs will enter a friendly spargel and strawberry competition to win the most creative dishes. With a jazz band playing in the background, the chefs will prepare gourmet dishes using local and regional vegetables as well as using sustainable farming meats. Regional wines will be served as well.

When: Saturday, June 6, 2015

Location: Zehntscheuer Bondorf

Hindenburgstrasse 92, 71149 Bondorf

How to Get There: By car Bondorf is approximately 40 minutes southwest of Stuttgart, 2 hours and 30 minutes southeast of Kaiserslautern and 2hours and 30 minutes south of Wiesbaden.

Cost: 55 Euro/person includes food and drinks
Tickets on-sale beginning in April

Summer, Sun and Heckengäu hlphoto / shutterstock.com

In the backdrop of the nature preserve at the Garden Kreisten in Leonberg, local chefs will prepare gourmet meals in a friendly competition. The organizers chose a great name for this fest- Summer, Sun and Heckengäu. On a summer night in June with music and singers, at fest tables under white tents the culinary creations you will experience will amaze you. Some dishes from last year were Spargelmousse and Venison Pâté  from currant jelly and much more. Some of the restaurants competing are Gasthof Waldorf, Aidlingen; Koppes Tafelhaus, Böblingen; Restaurant Alt-Calw and Gasthaus Zum Engel in Leonberg-Warmbronn.

When: Thursday, June 11 at 6 p.m.

Where: Kreisten Garten

Im Mahdental 6, 71229 Leonberg

How to Get There: By car Leonberg is about 20 minutes west of Stuttgart, 2 hours southeast of Kaiserslautern and 2 hours south of Wiesbaden.

Cost: 49 Euro/person includes food and drinks; tickets on sale on April 27

For more info: District offices of Böblingen

Buying Spargel and Cooking Tips

Spargel is authentically German. In just a few weeks you will begin to see spargel roadside stands in almost all small towns, grocery stores and farmer’s markets. If you are at a loss on how to prepare this vegetable, you’re not alone.

There are several tricks to cooking spargel correctly. Here is a super helpful link for proper preparation.You may want to keep this link in your favorites while you are here in Germany to help impress your family and friends. If you Google “spargel recipes” you’ll find the possibilities are endless. I hope you enjoy and try all the delights of the spargel season.hlphoto / shutterstock.com

Author’s Profile: Wendy Payne is a military spouse and lives with her family in Stuttgart. She is a freelance writer, blogger and photographer. She also enjoys gardening, hiking, yoga and sharing Europe with people.