Sunday, April 25, 2010

Artichokes!


These guys are crazy. They're pretty. They're poky. And they taste good! I have been eating artichokes since I was a kid. Years ago I lived in the Bay Area. Each trip made to Monterey was done so by driving through fields of artichokes. I love the rows of plants with their beautiful, thistly flowers poking their heads out. There are roadside places offering fried artichokes, fresh artichokes, artichoke this & artichoke that. And it always started a craving.

The design of these strange vegetables is a thing of wonder. Layers & layers of thorny leaves nestled around the soft hairy stuff that seems to stand watch over the heart of this flower. And then there's the taste...

How do you describe the taste? They seem like some distant relative in the broccoli or cauliflower family, don't they? There is a meaty, heartiness to them. So unlike a crisp, cool cucumber. The polar opposite of a sweet, soft tomato. They are their own creature. I love them.

I have always eaten them boiled then dipped in mayo, which admittedly sounds disgusting. But it just works. However, recently I threw some garlic, lemon juice, egg yolk, olive oil, salt & pepper in the food processor, and came up with something like a lemony, garlicky, mayo. Good lord, It worked!

SO, if you have some other exciting artichoke possibilities with which I can feed my artichoke cravings, do tell....


5 comments:

  1. Gorgeous, gorgeous photoes!
    (I think they will inspire me to try artichokes again!)

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  2. I lived in southern Italy as a kid and artichokes were a "palate cleanser" between huge courses of food. They were steamed, and served with a huge chunk of butter in the middle of the table...you'd sit and talk while dragging individual leaves across the butter, pulling them between your teeth...mmmMMM! And have you ever taken a drink of water after you eat an artichoke and noticed how sweet the water tastes?

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  3. Joy: Thank you! And do give them another go!!

    Melinda: Ack! you lived in Southern Italy...sigh...and you sent me Indian spices (which will be delivered in about a week!) - you're my hero!
    Love your comments and foodie-ness.
    Cheers!

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  4. Great photos! The 'chokes look amazing!

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  5. These have to belong on the 'Sexy Food' list!!

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