Cologne's Asparagus Gala: A celebration for a good cause and international friendship!

Cologne's Asparagus Gala: A celebration for a good cause and international friendship!

The spring festival of culinary delights is just around the corner! On June 2, 2025, the Colonia Culinary Arts Association's annual asparagus gala took place in the Dorint Hotel on Pipinstrasse. An event that not only delights with culinary delights, but also supports a good cause. The members of the club tirelessly peeled around a ton of asparagus while the guests enjoyed these delicacies. Every kilo of asparagus sold also brings money into the coffers for charitable projects. This year, an impressive total of 16,354.74 euros was collected, which went to the children's clinic on Amsterdamer Straße. Professor Michael Weiß gratefully accepted the generous check.

Chairman Ernst Vleer did not miss the opportunity to highlight the successes of the campaign. Since it started 25 years ago, the Colonia Culinary Arts Association has already collected around one million euros for various charitable purposes. A great sign of solidarity in Cologne! The gala attendees included an illustrious group, including city dean Monsignor Robert Kleine and ice hockey runner-up world champion Moritz Müller, as well as the Cologne FDP leader Maria Westphal and CDU mayor candidate Markus Greitemann.

An international flair

Another exciting aspect of the evening was the visit of an Israeli delegation that came to the gala under the leadership of Police Chief Johannes Hermanns and Chief Police Director Martin Lotz. This was the conclusion of a five-day exchange project by the North Rhine-Westphalia police. Essential topics such as the structuring of the police in Germany and violent crime were discussed. The delegation also had the opportunity to visit the Hambach opencast mine and explore Cologne cultural sites such as the cathedral and the Nazi Documentation Center.

In his speech, Hermanns emphasized the importance of international cooperation and bilateral knowledge transfer. Such exchange programs are not only a sign of good cooperation, but also contribute to strengthening the community and better understanding between nations.

The importance of gastronomy and trade

On the other hand, a current survey on the attractiveness of city centers shows that gastronomy plays a key role in urban life in Cologne. According to IFH Cologne, around 40% of visitors are attracted by the gastronomy. At the same time, the city center is given a school grade of two minus and has almost returned to the footfall of before the crisis. Cologne's city center benefits from a lively retail offering, which is mainly characterized by dining options.

In order to further increase Cologne's attractiveness, innovative ideas are needed. The city administration's support, such as the reimbursement of special usage fees for outdoor catering during the Corona pandemic, has shown that the city administration is taking steps in solidarity. Such measures are crucial for the positive development of gastronomy and local trade in these challenging times.

Finally, Mayor Henriette Reker emphasized in her speech that direct contact with the people of Cologne remains important, despite all the restrictions caused by the corona pandemic. Gastronomy not only shapes the city's image, but is also essential for social life. And this is exactly where the opportunity lies to make Cologne even more livable!