Forget utensils, artichokes are strictly finger food. They're especially fun for kids. The intricate-looking artichoke is actually the flower bud of a perennial in the thistle group of the sunflower family. Virtually all the artichokes grown commercially in the United States are produced in California. The Green Globe is by far the most common variety.
Harvesting is done entirely by hand, which accounts for the artichoke's uptown price.
In 1948, a budding star named Marilyn Monroe was crowned California Artichoke Queen at the annual Artichoke Festival. Start at the supermarket and look for artichokes that are even, compact, firm and green. But steer clear of globes that have brown, withered stems and cracked leaves. These are signs that the artichoke is over the hill. As for quantity, one artichoke yields up to two servings.