Artichokes
California Artichoke Advisory Board
10357 Merritt St., Castroville
(831) 633-4411, www.artichokes.org
The thistle that helped turn Norma Jean into Marilyn Monroe also claimed the crown as the entire state’s signature food via popular vote, trumping tasty things like Dungeness crab, sourdough bread and avocado. Monterey County claims the Artichoke Capital of the World (Castroville), the Giant Artichoke restaurants (now in Cannery Row too) and the Choke Coach (next to artichoke masters Pezzini Farms), so readers thought the area’s secret ingredient best be our best specialty crop.