It’s French White Asparagus season once again in Old Manila
For over 2,000 years, man has recognized the virtues of white asparagus, prizing its large, tender and delicately-flavored spears as a culinary temptation of unsurpassed value. The temptation continues with the return of the White Asparagus Festival at The Peninsula Manila’s Old Manila restaurant starting April 26, 2024.
Asparagus derives its name from ancient Greek, which means “sprout” or “shoot.” The ancients had long considered the white asparagus – part of the lily family and cousin to the onion, leek , and garlic – a delicacy, but it was the Romans who developed gardening techniques to grow them. They enjoyed them in season and were the first to preserve them by freezing. In fact, so familiar were the characteristics of white asparagus to them that the Emperor Caesar Augustus defined “haste” as “quicker than you can cook a white asparagus.”
Emperors and kings put a high premium on white asparagus, which is why it has always been referred to as the “Food of Kings.” King Louis XIV of France, the Sun King, was so enamored of the tender young spears of white asparagus, harvested as soon as they appear above ground, that he built special greenhouses so he could have a ready supply year-round.
“Fortunately these days you don’t have to be a king to enjoy white asparagus,” says Gaël Kubler, Old Manila Chef de Cuisine. “From April 23 rd onwards Old Manila’s seasonal menu will feature white asparagus which we have flown in fresh from France’s Landes region. They are a true celebration of springtime.”
For inquiries or reservations, please call The Peninsula Manila at +63 2 8887 2888, ext. 6694 or email diningPMN@peninsula.com for Restaurant Reservations, or visit peninsula.com.
Press release and photos courtesy of The Peninsula Manila