Flemish Asparagus

The typical Flemish asparagus is white, as it is grown covered in soil to prevent photosynthesis. This prevents the asparagus turning green and results in a taste a little sweter and much tenderer than the green asparagus. It is generally harvested from late April to early June. In Flanders, due to the short growing season and demand for local produce, asparagus commands a premium and the asparagus season is highlight of the foodie calendar as it is often nicknamend "white gold".
Only young asparagus shoots are commonly eaten: once the buds start to open, the shoots quickly turn woody and become strongly flavored. The shoots are prepared and served in a number of ways around the world, typically as an appetizer or a vegetable side dish.
In the Flemish style, it is mostly boiled or steamed and served with hollandaise sauce and/of melted butter.