Bush: German asparagus is "fabulous"

MESEBERG, Germany — The first President Bush, famously, didn't like broccoli.

Apparently his son feels differently about asparagus. And he wants the people of Germany to know it.

In a news conference Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Bush thanked his host for a most gracious dinner the night before. He and first lady Laura Bush had been treated to schnitzel, asparagus and a bowl of fresh strawberries.

"Laura and I loved our dinner last night," Bush said. "For those in the German press who thought I didn't like asparagus, you're wrong. The German asparagus are fabulous."

OK, then.

This time of year, asparagus is something of a national obsession in Germany, where a thick, white variety — usually slathered with Hollandaise sauce — is preferred over the green version of the vegetable.

Bush is known to drop these culinary mentions abroad. In a 2006 barbecue with Merkel in Germany, he could not stop raving about a roast wild boar.