Postings from Germany

Annual Asparagus Alimentary Affair ....

You know the routine.  It's spring.  It's German Spargel time (asparagus, the white variety).  And it's Ilsemarie and Ulli's turn for a friends' dinner. 

Weekdays have been on the yuckky side lately and weekends more agreeable.  This Saturday was no exception.  Werner and I did a good bit of outside work on Saturday preparing for NOT being here and/or unavailable for several weeks to do such outside work.  Then late afternoon Klaus and Johanna came by to admire the new garden house (it deserves a lot of admiration) and take us to the Annual Asparagus Feast.

The wisteria at the entrance to Ulli and Ilsemarie's is in full and fragrant bloom and in the back garden there was bubbly rosé  -  quite tasty.

Ilsemarie's sister works with restaurants and has for years been in charge of selecting the asparagus for us all - always the most fresh and perfect.  Sometimes, she throws in a soup and this year it was asparagus soup in a coconut milk base with grilled shrimp.  W O W.  It was wonderful.

The first course can vary, but the main meal is too traditional to mess with.  Serrano and Prosciutto accompanied the Spargel and new fresh potatoes.  Ooooh,  and don't forget the butter sauce.  We try not to overdo but it is almost impossible. You think when the food arrives it is much too much for us to consume and then, well, there's hardly any left over. How does that happen?!  THEN there was homemade chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream and fresh strawberries.  Fold me up and roll me out.  It was wonderful.

We chatted a bit more and then remembered it was the Eurovision finals.  Oh, Germany had a chance this year to not be totally embarrassing and come in at the bottom!  This is a pop contest with lots of political overtones, but nevertheless the German entry was a sweet young thing, unspoiled and fresh.  What a hoot - she won!  It's only pop, but it was a minor cause for celebration here what with the euro crisis and a poor economic outlook.   At 19, Lena has a lot ahead of her.  I hope she enjoys the rest of it as much as she - and Germany - enjoyed last night.

Our bunch however has no such hope - we KNOW we will enjoy next year's Spargel Essen as much or more as all the ones before.  Thanks Ilsemarie and Ulli.