My Town Monday: Castroville, CA

I do love an artichoke.

I am still working very hard writing I SO DON'T DO FAMOUS.

Do these two statements connect? Yes, it's a little convoluted, but they do indeed.

Artichokes. You can eat them hot or cold. If you time it right and find a baby artichoke, the entire thistle is edible. The yummiest part of the artichoke is the heart, also called the choke.

80% of all commercially grown artichokes are grown in Castroville, CA. Castroville is about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco.

Castroville, CA is the Artichoke Capital of the world. Here is a link to this year's artichoke festival, the 51st annual festival.

On June 1, 1947, Norma Jean Mortenson was crowned the very first Artichoke Queen.

You probably already know that Norma Jean Mortenson became Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn Monroe shows up in I SO DON'T DO FAMOUS. As a ghost.

Voila!

"I do love an artichoke" and "I am still working very hard on I SO DON'T DO FAMOUS" are irrevocably connected.


Here she is! Miss 1947 Artichoke Queen

Please check out the posts by the other My Town Monday participants by clicking here.


Oh, you're still in the mood for more about artichokes?

If you're intimated by the artichoke, here's a link for how to eat one.

If you're short of artichoke recipes, here's a link with lots of artichoke recipes

sources:
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/Produce-638/artichokes.aspx
http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2007/06/queen-of-artichokes.html