# I guess a lot of people never eat artichoke **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089 "2013-01-13T20:22:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/21 "2013-01-14T03:17:02Z")
> [@PoorMarie](#): > > I steam and eat as many artichokes as I can afford. Good username/post! Seriously though, got a link to that poem? ---
**Author:** ![Postariti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Postariti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Postariti)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/22 "2013-01-14T05:27:44Z")
I live in Arkansas, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fresh artichoke. I’ve never seen frozen, either. Just artichoke hearts in glass jars. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/23 "2013-01-14T05:30:52Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > What does the cannery do with all the perfectly good food on the leaves? I know some canneries which sell their organics to composting companies, to farmers or to companies making animal feed, different kinds of refuse go to different places. I’ve never asked what happens to artichoke tops, stems and leaves specifically tho. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/24 "2013-01-14T09:39:10Z")
Hearts is all the restaurants ever serve. They taste a lot like heart of coconut, which is what we have in my country so I thought “good, but nothing special.” I kinda like the cream-cheese-artichoke dipping sauces they serve in Greek restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/25 "2013-01-14T13:23:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Alas, the SO says eggplant gives her blisters in her mouth. Same with anchovies. How do you get the anchovies to eat the eggplant? ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/26 "2013-01-14T14:10:24Z")
Slice chokes in half. Scoop out feathery/fluffy/spiny crap on the inside. Steam/Boil for 10 minutes. Remove. Drain. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and whatever else. Grill for 3-4 minutes on each side. Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/27 "2013-01-14T14:15:01Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > And can’t imagine dunking a fat leaf in dressing, clenching it between the teeth, and pulling it out to scrape off the edible pulp. > > If they’ve eaten it, it was the only picked hearts. What does the cannery do with all the perfectly good food on the leaves? I’ve only eaten artichokes the way the OP describes it. I’ve never had hearts. A lot of people must do this – I still see artichokes being sold in supermarkets. Oh, and it doesn’t have to be dressing -0- you can use melted butter. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/28 "2013-01-14T14:23:14Z")
You will be hard-pressed to find a bigger artichoke fan than I, and I have personally introduced them to many friends and boyfriends over the years. But you have to admit a few things: 1. They are a hassle to eat leaf-by-leaf and not everyone thinks it is worth it 2. If you are dipping it butter, mayo or dressing (almost a requirement) you are getting a LOT of calories 3. They aren’t easy to cook unless you know the “trick” to checking to see if they are done in the center (sticking a fork through the stock and seeing how soft it is) 4. They are fucking expensive, at least everywhere in the US that I’ve seen, except for a couple times a year. So as much as I love them, love to cook several in a big pot and make a nice garlic butter dip for them, they are a once a year treat if even that. It’s really not so hard to see why people have never eaten anything but pickled hearts at salad bars and on pizzas and such. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/29 "2013-01-14T14:37:51Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > I prefer them as a vehicle for cheeses myself. Thanks for reminding me of my Chevy Vega. Now _there_ was a cheesy vehicle. Pickled artichoke hearts are OK by me. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/30 "2013-01-14T14:41:04Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > I love the taste but it just seems like so much effort for so little food. My room mate uses them merely as an acceptable vessel for melted butter. This, which applies to lobster and crab as well. If someone else does all the work I’ll eat them, but I don’t like them enough to do the work myself. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/31 "2013-01-14T15:01:49Z")
I’m a fairly adventurous eater, but I do live in the heartland/upper south and they’re not common as dirt around here so I haven’t had a lot of opportunity. I’ve stood looking at them in the grocery store without a clue what do to with them so here I am, one of the great non-artichoke eating unwashed. But like most people, I’ve eaten plenty of the canned or jarred artichoke hearts. Invite me over and feed me one; I promise I’ll eat it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/32 "2013-01-14T15:27:20Z")
Growing up in New England, I had never had one until one of my aunts cooked one while I was visiting once-- but I was in my 20s by then. Flash forward a few years, and I’m living in CA and everyone thinks they’re the bee’s knees. They can be OK, but it’s an awful lot of work to scrape a tiny bit of food off a leaf. I would never order one, but will partake if it’s a shared appetizer. ---
**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/33 "2013-01-14T16:49:17Z")
> [@PoorMarie](#): > > Sorry. I see someone else mentioned butter! BTW, artichokes supposedly change the taste of what you eat after them. They are notoriously hard to pair with wine and other foods. I believe there is an Italian aperitif that is consumed because it alters the flavors of the foods you eat after it. Fun artichoke facts to know and tell. The aperitif is called Cynar. I like it but some say it tastes medicinal. Artichokes have a chemical in them that causes whatever you eat or drink immediately after to taste sweet, called cynarin. I thought I remembered reading that not all people are sensitive to cynarin, but can’t find a cite right now. I love artichokes but my SO doesn’t, so I eat them rarely despite their being cheap and plentiful in California. And at least one person I’ve educated, because I discovered that after much happy gnawing of leaves they were unknowingly throwing away the heart. Travesty! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/34 "2013-01-14T17:01:27Z")
I have no idea why they are only commercially grown in California, they are a weed, and can be grown in many areas of the country. I grew them here in Connecticut about 6 years ago. Because of the snow and freeze they were not perennials but we grew them as annuals. ---
**Author:** ![PoorMarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@PoorMarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorMarie)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/35 "2013-01-14T19:59:02Z")
PlainJane, I barely have the guts to post here at all given how awed I am by the average intelligence level evident on the SDMB. If I get brave sometime, maybe after a couple of glasses of vino, I will post it. When I was little, I would eat the leaves and then offer the heart to the rest of the family. Needless to say, I didn’t need to ask twice! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/36 "2013-01-14T20:11:15Z")
> [@cuberdon](#): > > The aperitif is called Cynar. I like it but some say it tastes medicinal. Artichokes have a chemical in them that causes whatever you eat or drink immediately after to taste sweet, called cynarin. I thought I remembered reading that not all people are sensitive to cynarin, but can’t find a cite right now. Sweet? About anything I eat or drink after artichokes (boiled or fried) tastes bitter 😕 ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/37 "2013-01-15T00:02:01Z")
Only way I’ve ever eaten artichokes was on pizza quattro stagioni… ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/38 "2013-01-15T01:36:42Z")
Fresh steamed artichoke, opens up a completely new taste bud…sorta like a natural MSG, but you cant really pin it down what it is. It’s not a flavor, it’s a _Sensation_. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/39 "2013-01-15T01:46:54Z")
> [@Postariti](#): > > I live in Arkansas, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fresh artichoke. I’ve never seen frozen, either. Just artichoke hearts in glass jars. That is the same as Cucumbers are to Pickles. Two different things altogether. I like the pickled ones for a quick snack. ---
**Author:** ![cdsilv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cdsilv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdsilv)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089/40 "2013-01-15T03:02:10Z")
add some tarragon to the melted butter - artichoke heaven!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-a-lot-of-people-never-eat-artichoke/647089.md?page=3)