Artichoke

That evening, we invited Tante* Inge for dinner.  This was our appetizer.  Each leaf is removed one at a time, dipped in a sauce prepared by Christophe.  The remaining heart is then eaten, after removal of the inedible “choke”.   Every time we eat this, which is very seldom, I always feel like I am dining in a high-class French restaurant. 

Chantal, Christophe’s French mom, introduced this to him when he was five or six.  It was an uncommon dish in Germany back then, she was happy whenever there were some to buy.  Nowadays, this seasonal flower is common and can be bought in the major supermarkets here, costing between 1 to 3 Euros/stalk.  

Christophe was thrilled to first find artichokes at an American style supermarket in Plaza Singapura for SGD15 per stalk!  The supermarket had since closed down.  Slowly, it also became more available in the supermarkets downtown, costing around SGD5 for a small stalk.

Artichoke is a flower that is originally grown in the deserts of northern Africa.  It was introduced to France, subsequently cultivated and grown in Italy, Spain and Greece.  A very healthy dish that aids in digestion, strengthens liver and gall bladder functions and reduces cholesterol levels, which diminishes the risk for arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease. 

It most probably aided my digestion tremendously cause I farted like hell after eating two that night.

*Tante is “aunt” in german.