In late April and early May, the city of Schwetzingen hosts its famous “Spargelfest.” White asparagus is known as spargel in Germany and is called the Royal Vegetable or white gold. There are a few other cities that also host such festivals for spargel, but Schwetzingen was the closest to me at the time.
Spargel is grown in dirt row mounds, and as the shoots grow, they are then covered incrementally to prevent photosynthesis and having the asparagus turn green. The result is a very tender white asparagus. I was standing in a local field to show the height of these row mounds....
The season is not long, and once harvested it is considered a delicacy and restaurants will have signboards advertising their spargel dishes. Normally it will be served with hollandaise sauce and considered a main entrée. Often a small portion of boiled potatoes will accompany the dish. My favorite was the soup that consisted of a bisque with baby spargel tips.
Schwetzingen will be crowded during the harvest season as large spargel outdoor market stands are all around the city center. There is even a bronze sculpture depicting a woman selling her spargel harvest.
Schwetzingen is known for its famous palace and the oldest mosque in Germany. The city was first mentioned in the year 766 and is located very close to Heidelberg.
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