The artichoke is one of the most characteristic and representative vegetables of Italian cuisine, even according to great chefs like Niko Romito.
Understanding why is simple: the artichoke fully expresses the Italian spirit. Natural, tasty, exquisite... it represents Italian passion and beauty with its versatility and a complex flavor, which is both sweet and bitter.
These special features also led the poet Pablo Neruda to create an ode to the artichoke, which describes it as a warrior vegetable with a peaceful and tender heart.
What's more, the artichoke is a surprise. The artichoke is not actually a vegetable, but a flower.