SPARGELZEIT means Time to Savour the White Asparagus in Germany

Spargetzeit means season of asparagus (Asparagus season), particularly the white asparagus in Germany. For the Germans and many residents of Germany, spring time is Spargelzeit which is the time to savour and enjoy the seasonal white asparagus which starts from  April and ending June 24 of each year.

White Asparagus called Royal Vegetable is so loved in Germany such that it was given a name  "Königsgemüse (King's Vegetable)."

It is are also referred to as "Frühlingswonne (Springtime Delight)," and "Zartes Elfenbein (Soft Ivory)".

I was  able to taste the white asparagus which the Germans are so proud of, we were invited by to have lunch so I can experience  the season of  the white asparagus  which they really, really love to savor when it is in season.

Here are the pictures that I made for that special day where I tasted for the first time the "Royal Vegetable" in Germany in 2007 Spargelzeit.

To prepare the asparagus, they remove the outer skin by a special peeler, then boil them in a special pot  use especially for boiling/cooking asparagus, a tall and slender pot as tall as the white asparagus, indeed.

The white asparagus is traditionally served and eaten with cooked ham served on the side

Melted butter is used for Salzkartoffel and the Hollandaise sauce which is spread all over the cooked asparagus when served

The butter is melted right on the table with a special burner

Kochschinken (cooked ham, often Serrano ham) as an accompaniment for white asparagus

Trying to help set up the table, I was so excited to taste the Royal Vegetable" which was once only served for the Royals

The two great oldies were really very excited to let me taste the white asparagus. Like all Germans are,  they are really very proud of this particular vegetable which is only available fresh in Spring for only 3 months (April until June 24)

The asparagus served with the ham (usually Serrano ham), is not yet complete as the boiled potatoes (Salzkartoffeln)  and the Hollandaise sauce is not yet ready

Melted butter and Hollandaise sauce and the boiled asparagus being served by my mother-in-law

Asparagus is known as the “royal vegetable” in Germany, a nickname gained as it was only available to the nobility during early times. Germany's "asparagus" was cultivated in the 16th century and it was by the mid 19th century, that this so called "Royal vegetable" became  popular for all the levels of German society. Since then, "Spargelzeit"  is a big event all over Germany.

Salzkartoffeln is the German word which means boiled potatoes which are peeled before boiling. Last 2 photos shows Heinz serving them. Shown also is a sauce bowl with Hollandaise sauce and melting butter on a burner

The complete set of Spargel (asparagus) meal for my first Spargelzeit in 2007 in Germany - boiled potatoes (Salzkartoffeln) and cooked asparagus with the Hollandaise sauce ready for me to devour and enjoy.

Heinz made perfect boiled whiteAsparagus. He was a happy cook. It was one of his passions when he was still alive

Below are the pictures of how Heinz, the life partner of my mother-in.law prepared the white asparagus which we all savored until the last bite.

Cleaning the asparagus by removing the lower end which is usually hard

In the 2 photos of above, Heinz is arranging the asparagus in a special Asparagus pot  especially for cooking asparagus. The pot is almost as tall as the asparagus.

Peeling or removing the woody outer skin of the asparagus before boiling them in water. White asparagus needs to be peeled and is often best cooked in liquid for 10- 20 minutes, depending on thickness, until tender. It must never be soggy. 

Germans only talk about white Asparagus during Spargelzeit, although green Asparagus are also available in Germany. This "Royal Vegetable" is white because it is  grown under thick cover, with the earth banked up around it, hence there is lack of sunlight that prevents photosynthesis. 

I have so many stories to say about my experiences with white Asparagus and Spargelzeit in Germany, for now, I just want that you enjoy my pictures and hopefully be able to savor the taste of the "Royal Vegetable" during one of your travels to Germany. 

gutes Frühstück - A Good German Breakfast

Breakfast, Frühstück (Fruehstueck)  in German is something I enjoy a lot in Germany with the presence of all foods I like, what else can I ask for: cheese, good newly baked bread, egg and a lot more.

Below is the breakfast I prepared for my visitors when they visited for brunch. It is very rare that relatives and friends  visit in Germany, so a visit and to stay for a meal is such a happy occassion for me.



I was also happy to be able to use my antique red breakfast set which was given to me by a friend as she will not need them anymore in Australia, her home country where she will spend her retirement after the death of her German husband.

Selection of cheeses and Aufschnitt  which means assorted cold cuts (ham, salami, sausages), sliced cucumbers, grapes, marmalade/jam, butter, Nutella and hard-boiled eggs, freshly baked Brötchen and Bremen Coffee - strong black coffee is it.

Cheeses include Mozzarella, Camember, and slices of Gouda

Assorted varieties of Brötchen - German for bun or rolls which is available all day in German bakeries and always freshly-baked and hot from the oven.

Mozzarela Cheese (Mozzarella di Bufala) . I love it combined with slices of fresh and juicy tomatoes and basil leaves to fill my warm Brötchen

A variety of Tomatoes which I discovered in Germany called Datteln Tomaten called as such because its shaped like Arabic Dates called Datteln in German

My youngest brother ... Feast of Singapore Flavors

My  youngest brother who works as a Personal Trainor is lucky enough to have a client who  is visiting Singapore for 3 weeks. He graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and has been working as a Personal Trainor mostly for old clients who wants to maintain their exercise regiments even when they are travelling. Once, he was invited to join his client on an Asian cruise and now he is travelling in and out of  Singapore. Nowadays, we are in constant contact through the wonders of modern technology,  as we are planning to travel to Houston, Texas for my mother`s 80th birthday. He  is also sharing to me  about his experiences in Singapore, where he lives and the people whom he lives with and of course about  food, as I know a lot where are the best street foods in Singapore.  He knows  I am a foodie,  I talk to him about all the nice dishes he can enjoy in the country. He knows very well that  I have a great passion for food and has been collecting food pictures and Singapore is one of the countries in Asia which I have not visited yet so he is kind enough  to share to me all the pictures of the foods he was able to eat and enjoy in Singapore.
I am so happy that my brother can travel now, his visa for America was not granted unfortunately, but I told him to remain happy, because he has been travelling to one of the best countries in the world, get to know people from the place and enjoy their culture.
Not everyone is given an opportunity to work abroad, and this is a great opportunity and he must  just have to continie dreaming of one day meeting our mommy in America.

Here are some of the pictures he shared to me while in Singapore. I really had fun watching them. I am happy for my brother, for this chance to visit a beautiful country.

Mixed Rice Curry / Economy Rice Meal - Mixture of Rice and choice of dishes

Roti served with spicy lentil curry

In Fresh food shop in Singapore, varieties of fesh chilis and fresh vegetables, like Okra

Big, fried  Crab (Mud crab)  with salted eggs yolk sauce called Salted Egg Crab.

Food Plaza with lots of stores offering different kinds of dishes. At Bukit Batok in Singapore

Singapore's Economy Rice Meal

Ice Kacang  -  Singapore's very own snowcone. Similar to the Philippine's Halo Halo

In a Japanese Restaurant in Singapore serving Sea Urchins served on its shell

Clay Pot Rice

 Singapore Coffee in a Kopitiam / Coffee Houses.Strong black coffee,  Singapore way. I think I will enjoy this one as I love black coffee.  This is called  Kopi-O Kosong

Last 2 photos is  Seafood Mee wrapped in a husks. It is noodles cooked with seafoods and wrapped in what seemed to be corn husk

Good Food and The Book "50 Shades of Grey"

There is nothing like eating a sweet snack and drinking hot black coffee and reading this bestseller book "50 Shades of Grey".

It was just an accident that I stumbled with this only English copy of 50 Shades of Grey in a big bookstore here in Bremen. And to enjoy good food while reading  50 shades and imagine how Christian Grey looks like just makes my day great day.


Guten Appetit!!!! I am sure you most of you has also read this bestseller out f curiosity.

Pancakes (Pfannkuchen in German) with fresh cream and cherry compote.... and

hot freshly brewed black coffee ....... and 50 Shades of Grey .... what a best seller.

50 Shade of Grey will finally be shown here in Germany this year 2015. I hope to acquire a ticket for its Original Version so I can see it in English and have a glimpse of Mr. Christian Grey while munching on Tacos with spicy cheese sauce and big glass of cold iced tea will be equally heavenly, just like reading the book while having a cup of strong black coffee and a pancake.

Christian Gray , I hope to meet you soon on our movie date !!!!

The Filipinos Overseas and the Balikbayan Box

Balikbayan is a Filipino word which literally means going back (balik)  to the country (bayan). It refers to Filipinos who coming back home to the Philippines to visit their loved ones after a long stay in a foreign land. Balikbayan mostly refer to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) , the Filipinos working abroad, those who migrated to another country due to marriage, and those who migrated to different parts of the world and live there permanently because of work and career. These people, including me, believe that we live a better life than those we left back home in the Philippines and we all wanted to make our loved ones in the Philippines experience what we are also experiencing living abroad, especially to own things which we also own, like dresses, shoes (most especially rubber shoes), bags (the designer bags), perfumes (the special ones) and many others and to let them taste what we are eating abroad, mostly canned goods and sweets, especially chocolates and special cookies. The offshoot of this feeling of the Filipinos wanting their loved ones experience what they are experience living abroad is the Balikbayan Box.

A Balikbayan Box are big cardboard box sent by Filipinos workers and living abroad to their loved ones in the Philippines and contains as many items as the box can contain, like personal items (perfume, shoes, bags, sunglasses, make-ups and all other designer items), canned goods (corned beef, sausages, meatloafs especially Spam), food items (chocolates, cookies, candies), toys (Lego, etc), toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste and sometimes even beautiful and thick tissues), household/kitchen accessories (pots and pans, kitchen tissues) , electronic items (mobiles, cameras and computers), clothing (the branded ones). Mostly the weight is unlimited until the box is already quite full or until it can be closed.

The last 2 balibayan Boxes I sent to the Philippines from Bremen, Germany before my 2013 vacation to the Philippines. I needed to send them so I will have a gift for everybody when I arrive. 

Although it is quite expensive, mostly it takes 500 euros to fill one (1)  box which will cost me around 85 euros per box  to send to the Philippines, I am still very happy to send at least 2 to 3 boxes per year to my son and siblings in the Philippines. It makes me feel good that my family can also eat all my favorite foods in Germany.

Below are the photos of some of the contents of my last 2 Balibayan Boxes.

To open a Balikbayan Box is a wonderful feeling. My first time to open a box filled with imported chocolates, perfumes and designer shoes was maybe 20 years ago, the first time, my younger sister who works as a Physical Therapist in America sent us a box. Opening a Balikbayan Box is like opening a gift much like when you receive a gift during special occassions, like Christmas and birthdays. It is much more special because some of the contents of the balikbayan Box are items which are hard to find in the Philippines or too expensive to buy in the Philippines.

My 2 Balikbayan boxes being transported starting from Germany to my home country, the Philippines. It takes 2.5 months before they reached my loved ones back home, but for everybody it is all worth the wait.