The California Artichoke

It's funny what you miss when you move to another country. Peanut butter for one. Preferably the giant Costco-sized creamy Skippy. And before I left for Europe I was into that natural, chunky peanut butter. I wasn't even one of those kids who ate PB&J every day, but since moving to Europe I want peanut butter and peanut butter flavored snacks all the time. Go figure.

Another thing I miss is artichokes. Yes, like peanut butter you can get artichokes in London. But for whatever reason its not the same as eating them from the source. Springtime in Northern California is synonymous with one of my favorite things to eat: The Artichoke.

Nearly all artichokes consumed in the United States come from Monterey County. A coastal county, with sandy soil in a temperate climate - absolutely perfect for artichoke cultivation. Today, you can still get a giant, fresh, artichoke for only $1! This is a farm near my parents home and these artichokes are ready to be picked!

I'll eat them in almost any form, but steamed or boiled whole is my favorite. Rinse. Trim. Boil water. Add a bit of salt and lemon to the water. Takes about a half hour for a few large artichokes. Done and dusted. It can't get any simpler. (Please excuse my artichokes for oxidizing - they traveled in my suitcase to London all the way from California. I just had to bring some back with me.) 

I love pulling the leaves off one by one and scraping each leaf against my teeth. Plain is fine or dipped in a bit of melted butter or lemon mayo. After layers and layers you get to the inedible choke. 

Gently scrape away and then the best part: The Heart. 

Like many of California's specialty crops, artichokes were introduced by the Spaniards over 200 years ago. Today, California mostly cultivates Green Globes, which hail from Italy, and larger than most varieties. Artichokes have been popular in Italy, Spain, and France since before the Renaissance and often eaten grilled, raw, marinated, steamed, braised, stuffed... 

I may need to take a trip get more artichokes from another source. That's the wonder of living in London. France is a hop. Spain a skip. Italy a jump. 

  

Comments

[Natasha - 5 Star Foodie]

I still haven't cooked with fresh artichokes and my daughter has been asking to get some gorgeous one we've seen in the stores. I will this weekend!

[elra]

My favorite and most beautiful vegetable in the world. Of course I like to eat it too. Nice photos.
Cheers,
elra

[Tangled Noodle]

The first photo is beautiful! As lovely as produce can appear when ready for purchase, seeing it still in its natural state is also amazing. I have not cooked fresh artichoke before and I don't know why I'm waiting! I can't imagine what I'm missing if it's so good that you'd transport it halfway across the globe. (I'm pleased to hear that they made it through UK customs agency - I couldn't even bring home a particular type of lei from Hawai'i back into the US mainland!)

[gastroanthropologist]

5 Star Foodie - I'm sure you two are very much looking forward to the weekend then!

Elra - They are really lovely to look at and eat, aren't they!

Tangled Noodle - You must soon! I hope you can get some in Minnesota. The UK customs are nowhere near as concerned about incoming food and plants. And for me when I fly into San Francisco nothing gets past the beagle customs dog. He can sniff out anything and he wears a super cool vest.

[The Duo Dishes]

Working with a fresh, raw artichoke is intimidating. You are right though...dip into a great aioli and it's so good.

[OysterCulture]

I loved the artichoke photos, their great. Like Tangled Noodle, except that I grew up in the Midwest, it took me a long time to cook artichokes - they seemed so exotic. But boy was I glad to discover them. Steamed is good, but the Italian side of my husbands family leans towards stuffed, which is how I usually end up making them.

I have to say I fell in love with the fried chokes and homemade dips found in the fields and little markets near Monterey and Carmel.I'd have made my husband stop at every stall if I thought I could get away with it.

[Lori]

First of all, ditto on the PB. Can't get it = want it all the time for me. :)

I don't know that I've ever had artichokes that fresh. The pictures are amazing. I've really only had them as an ingredient in dip or on pizza. I see now that I must get more adventurous and get my hands on some from California when the opportunity arises.

[Sam]

I really like artichokes though I've never prepared a fresh one myself.

We have peanut butter in the uk, you can even get skippy here!

[gastroanthropologist]

Duo Dishes - Don't be intimidated! They are so delicious and so worth it.

Oyster - I've done them stuffed once or twice. Do you precook them or just bake them stuffed and raw? What do you like to stuff them with?

Lori - Fresh are my favorite, but they are so delicious in other forms too. I love the marinated ones in salads and on pizza. I've never had them raw, but I'm coming across some thinly sliced raw artichokes for salads and such so I'm going to try that out the next time I get my hands on some!

Sam - I know! I found some Skippy at my local Sainsbury's. But, it came in a teeny 1 cup jar and cost about 5 USD. I I can six pounds of Skippy in the US for the same amount of money! The economic PB has become a luxury item!

[DeelishDish]

You know what? You just made me realize that I love artichokes but never get to eat them anymore because my bf hates them. Well, no more! He hates goat cheese as well but I am refusing the insanity! And I'm currently trying to break my Skippy addiction bc someone told me how fattening it is. Life can be so unfair.

[Daily Spud]

My mum grew artichokes once years ago and steamed, with some butter, oh my... Other than that, I've rarely eaten them other than in the form of marinated hearts from deli counters. Fresh artichokes are a rare enough treat in these parts!

[Sapuche]

Artichokes were a summertime favorite growing up. My mom would steam or boil them, too, and serve with mayonnaise. They were one of the few veggies I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into (though now I'll eat anything). As always, your photos were wonderful, and it's clear from your posts that your hometown is stunning!

Oh, and if you're interested in doing something with peanut butter, have you tried making an Elvis sandwich? I made this yesterday after coming across it on Daily Spud's blog, and wow...peanut butter!

http://recipeplay.com/?p=182

[mycookinghut]

I have never seen artichoke plant before!! You know, without internet access, I have realised I am a little behind on your posts!

[Sophie]

Hello Adrienne,
I love your pictures! I adore artichokes in every way! Yummie food!

[lisaiscooking]

I wish I could grow artichokes! Or live closer to where they're grown.

[gastroanthropologist]

DeelishDish - Artichokes and Goat Cheese? Don't give up - he'll come around. He has to. They are so good! Yes, why are most of the tasty things not so good for our waistlines?

Daily Spud - I wish you could get them fresh more often... and they take up lots of room in the garden so its not always easy to plant them yourselves. I love the marinated ones chopped up in a salad, sandwich or on pizza.

Sapuche - I did see that Elvis bread on Daily Spud. Peanut butter, banana, and honey - YUM!

mycookinghut - welcome back! So glad your internet got hooked up without all the problems I had.

Sophie - Thanks. I adore them every way too!

lisaiscooking - I wish I could grow some here in London too, but the only I'm growing on my patio is mold and moss.

[zerrin]

The artichokes in these pictures look so fresh. I adore this fresh vegetable, generallt stuffed and cooked with olive oil. But it's quite expensive here. I wish I could grow it myself too.

[Debby]

I consider myself very blessed to live on the Monterey Peninsula. You can bet that artichokes are a staple in my kitchen. So glad you got to bring some home!

[OysterCulture]

Hi Adrienne,

I steam them, stuffed either with breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and spices, or a ricotta stuffing. Either way works very well, and is a quick easy meal as most of the time is spent with the chokes steaming on the stove.

[Jenn@slim-shoppin]

Your pictures look amazing

It's funny I like artichokes in dip, but I have never tried them the way you described.

I'm going to try them again.

Can you bring peanut butter on a plane back to London?? :0)

[sandy]

you can buy green globe artichokes in Wholefood/fresh and wild stores across London , as i am growing them especially for these stores as I too saw them in California and as a grower of soft fruits ,could see this would be a new challenge , so go and try a uk artichoke.