Strawberry Season: The Art of Seasonal Cooking

I have said it before and I will say it again – I love seasonal foods in Berlin. Of course, this is the same in the UK where strawberries and asparagus are popping up everywhere this time of the year but you can still find them in the supermarkets all year round. You may not be able to find these in such high supply but you can always find a strawberry whatever time of the year. In Berlin this is different and fruit and veg are seasonal. In the winter months you can find mountains of satsumas but not a single strawberry and late spring you cannot go out to eat without asapargus being on the menu. But finding asparagus in the winter? That is a real no go and any German would just look at you like you have gone mad if you ask for asparagus in the winter. Out of season goods may be harder to come by and more expensive in the UK but you can still find them.

Yet strangely this is what I love about Berlin. Everyone going asparagus crazy (check out my spargel fever post here) and little strawberry stands on every street corner during late spring/ summer months. The same goes for autumn/ winter when apples and satsumas are in full flow. You know the fruit and veg are fresh and will taste good because they are in season and this is how it should be. It is very British to expect any kind of fruit and veg whatever time of the year yet the French, Germans, Italians, Spanish (list can go on) make the most of seasonal goods. Why would you want something out of season when it is not at it’s best? This is where living on the Continent beats the UK – you only eat food when it is good and you prepare your meals to eat seasonally. Food and cooking is a fine art and something the Brits still need to work on.