Monday, August 9, 2010

Cynara cardunculus--Cardoon


Such a beautiful flower; seems a shame to cut it down and eat the stems. Closely related to artichokes, and the but can be eaten, but probably not as much flesh on the cardoon. This plant was eaten hundreds of years before Christ in Greece and Rome, but now it is a California favorite. These plants love the cool summers and frost-free winters of the west coast. That is why Castroville is the "Artichoke Capital of the World." If you go through, don't forget to stop and get the artichoke bread: like zucchini bread but different.

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