The king of vegetables.

One of very few good things that happen when the love of your life leaves you is that you slowly begin to realise that, although you didn't feel restricted at the time, you are now free to do, watch, listen to, and eat certain things that your partner may not have enjoyed as much as you. Without even realising, you had ended up depriving yourself of them.

For me, the artichoke is one such thing. My ex could never understand why I love it so much.

It evokes childhood memories of going to a lovely family friend's for dinner. It's one of the most beautiful vegetables, with its shapely, green outer leaves protecting the delicate, silky, purple and white leaves inside. It's a vegetable that is an adventure to eat as you peel off the leaves, one by one, making sure to get every last bit of meaty flesh off each one, till you battle the spiky choke that guards the delectable treasure - the heart. You can make it as extravagant, luxurious or simple as you choose; it's always absolutely delicious.

And since I've had the flat to myself I've gone a fair way to making up for lost artichokes.