# I just ate an artichoke **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532 "2007-06-19T00:32:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/1 "2007-06-19T00:32:11Z")
How boring. It was steamed. Then steamed a lot longer because it wasn’t done the first time (hey, it wasn’t me!). So I sat there slurp/scraping the leaves with my front teeth, after having dipped the leaves in mayo. Pretty bland stuff really. I was glad when I started getting towards the center and the leaves started getting softer and more tender. Then the heart. Best part! Well, sorta. I guess after you’ve done all that work the heart does seem nice. But it’s still kinda boring and bland. Now, give me a jar of marinated artichoke hearts any day. That’s good stuff. But this steamed artichoke delicacy leaves me kinda unimpressed. What’s your take on artichokes? Food of the Gods, or overrated, pretentious, too-much-work appetizer? The roomie made them this time. Any ideas how I could make them more interesting next time? Or should I even bother? I feel kind of guilty being from Monterey and not being an artichoke expert/snob. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/2 "2007-06-19T00:44:24Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] What’s your take on artichokes? [/QUOTE] I love artichokes. Unfortunately, we can’t get them here, so I can’t help fealing jealous and slightly outraged at your lack of appreciation for this fine vegetable. Typically, I dip steamed artichokes in a mustard vinaigrette, which is probably a much better match than mayo. (Although I’m quite fond of mayo.) What I especially like about them, appart from the taste, is that eating them is a sort of journey. Variation is built in the plant. Eating an artichoke isn’t work, it’s fun! ---
**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:** [June 19, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/3 "2007-06-19T00:46:54Z")
IMO artichokes are a waste of time and effort. Some of our friends just love them and serve them at every opportunity, but we just tell them to only make enough for themselves if we are coming to dinner. They taste blah and they are not worth the effort to cook and eat. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/4 "2007-06-19T01:00:53Z")
Squeeze a hefty amount of lemon on top before steaming, so it can soak down into it a bit. If plain mayo doesn’t do it for ya, add some cayenne pepper or tabasco. You know that you’re right by the Giant Artichoke, don’t you? It’s in Castroville, home of the Artichoke Festival. (…the first beauty queen was Marilyn Monroe.) ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/5 "2007-06-19T01:01:20Z")
Aw, come on! Artichokes are fantastic. The big argument is what kind of dipping sauce you use. The argument I always heard was butter vs. mayo, but this is from having grown up in the 60’s and 70’s. Mayonaise is what we had at our house, and that is what God meant it to be! Granted, our tastes are a bit more sophisticated these days, and there’s many different ways to prepare them, but I usually just eat them steamed. What does bum me out is that they don’t sell them for 50¢ each like in the good old days. They only those huge globe artichokes for $3.50. I’ll have to head up to Castroville during peak season and go to [Giant Artichoke](http://www.lukecole.com/Roadside%20Attractions/World's%20Largest/artichoke.htm). ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/6 "2007-06-19T01:14:09Z")
Yes, yes. I know. I’m ashamed to say I’ve never been to the Giant Artichoke. I have been to the various vegetable festivals though. But geez, you batter & deep fry anything and slog it down with a beer it tastes good. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/7 "2007-06-19T01:17:13Z")
Olive oil and lemon. And a bit of salt. For the dipping sauce. You can substitute melted butter for the oil, if you like. Damn, I loves me a steamed artichoke. Never had one until I was a grown up, when the Ukulele Lady (a 2nd-generation Greek) turned me onto them. Now Pianola has requested them as part of her 17th birthday dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/8 "2007-06-19T01:17:42Z")
I love artichokes served with a variety of great dipping sauces, one of which includes not only mayo but lemon juice, worchestershire sauce and diced ham. One of my favorites is created by putting about 1/3 stick of butter into a ramekin. I then finely grate a large clove of garlic onto the butter and microwave till all the butter is melted. As you eat, the garlic and butter turn into a kind of light paste, and a very tasty one at that. Damn good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/9 "2007-06-19T01:19:22Z")
Huh–I thought it was just me. I don’t mind them, but I dont’ particularly see the joy other people get from them, whether we’re talking fresh and steamed or jarred and pickled. I’d much rather have something else to eat. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/10 "2007-06-19T01:21:22Z")
Something I’m gathering here - it’s not about the artichoke is it? It’s all about the dips. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/11 "2007-06-19T01:44:01Z")
Close, but not entirely. I love the taste of artichokes themselves and how that taste marries with the dip I’m using. I also love starting with the tougher outer leaves and working my way down to the tender inner leaves that can be munched whole. And then, just when you’re thinking that’s about as good as it gets, you get to the heart of the artichoke, which is its best part. So no, it’s not all about the dips, but for some people the proper dip can be the difference between enjoying an artichoke or not. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/12 "2007-06-19T01:54:09Z")
I loved artichokes when my mom made them, and I’m sure those of you who think they’re bland but OK would like them too. I’m not sure how she did it, but I think they were roasted in the oven. She’d trim the sharp ends off, then stuff bread crumb stuffing between the leaves. They were still green when they were done, unlike steamed chokes. Then we’d dip the leaves, with their stuffing on top, slightly crunchy, in butter/garlic sauce. Fuckin’ awesome. Is roasting the best, most flavorful way to make them? Steaming ain’t it, that’s for sure. What about grilling? That’s my new favorite way to cook vegetables. Would it work to wrap a prepped artichoke in foil, liberally spritzed with olive oil, maybe some water in the bottom of the foil? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/13 "2007-06-19T02:02:26Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] I loved artichokes when my mom made them, and I’m sure those of you who think they’re bland but OK would like them too. I’m not sure how she did it, but I think they were roasted in the oven. She’d trim the sharp ends off, then stuff bread crumb stuffing between the leaves. They were still green when they were done, unlike steamed chokes. Then we’d dip the leaves, with their stuffing on top, slightly crunchy, in butter/garlic sauce. Fuckin’ awesome. [/QUOTE] The very first time I had one, way back in college, it was stuffed and baked that way. Obviously, we needed your mom! The friends of mine who made it swore it was the greatest thing ever but the way it turned out was just baked stuffing, and we used the leaves as not much more than a utensil for eating the stuffing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/14 "2007-06-19T02:03:01Z")
I have eaten them steamed with garlic butter. Hollandaise would be nice, too. It was rather pleasant, but Mrs Plant doesn’t enjoy them and they are rather expensive. I also suspect they should be fresher than I find them at Krogers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/15 "2007-06-19T02:05:37Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] The very first time I had one, way back in college, it was stuffed and baked that way. Obviously, we needed your mom! The friends of mine who made it swore it was the greatest thing ever but the way it turned out was just baked stuffing, and we used the leaves as not much more than a utensil for eating the stuffing. 😃 [/QUOTE] Well, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I loved the stuffing and the butter-garlic sauce a whole lot. But artichoke itself also tastes really good and adds something to it that, um, eating stuffing with butter just doesn’t have (though it does sound kinda good, in a gross way). The heart is also fabulous regardless of how the rest of it is cooked. I’m asking my SiL for the stuffed artichoke recipe. I’ll pass it along when I get it and then we can all enjoy artichoke nirvana. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/16 "2007-06-19T02:12:58Z")
My mom used to serve them with vegetable oil with liberal amounts of salt and pepper in the oil (which is kind of like poor man’s Italian Butter) but now I want to try using some other dips. Yum! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/17 "2007-06-19T02:41:58Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] I’m asking my SiL for the stuffed artichoke recipe. I’ll pass it along when I get it and then we can all enjoy artichoke nirvana. [/QUOTE] Please do. I’d love a good recipe for it. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/18 "2007-06-19T03:30:25Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Is roasting the best, most flavorful way to make them? Steaming ain’t it, that’s for sure. What about grilling? That’s my new favorite way to cook vegetables. Would it work to wrap a prepped artichoke in foil, liberally spritzed with olive oil, maybe some water in the bottom of the foil? [/QUOTE] I’ve done that. Clean it and split it in half, and douse the cut side with garlic butter, then wrap in foil and grill. It gives them a great smokey flavor, although they’re not as tender as steamed. But I may have to play with cooking temperatures and times more. Man, I love artichokes. Marinated, steamed, any way. If a restaurant dish has them in it, I’m almost always choosing it. Put them on a pizza, and I’ll follow you around in adoration. …wait, I did that tonight. Should I now follow myself around? ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/19 "2007-06-19T03:51:23Z")
[QUOTE=Cowgirl Jules] If a restaurant dish has them in it, I’m almost always choosing it. Put them on a pizza, and I’ll follow you around in adoration. …wait, I did that tonight. Should I now follow myself around? [/QUOTE] If you do, videotape it and put it on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532/20 "2007-06-19T05:29:51Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Is roasting the best, most flavorful way to make them? Steaming ain’t it, that’s for sure. What about grilling? That’s my new favorite way to cook vegetables. Would it work to wrap a prepped artichoke in foil, liberally spritzed with olive oil, maybe some water in the bottom of the foil? [/QUOTE] Why wrap them in foil? This recipe is inspired by how the [Hitching Post](http://www.hitchingpost2.com/) (Of Sideways fame) serves them. Here is what I did the other night. I steamed the artichoke for a while (not long enough to fully cook it, get it part way there) Cut the artichoke in half. Scrape out the hairs in the middle. Spritz with olive oil and lay cut side down on the grill. Turn once or twice. For a dipping sauce, I took mayo and added some crushed garlic, a couple of different types of chili powder, and some paprika. Freakin Awesome! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-ate-an-artichoke/408532.md?page=2)