delicious...

...when the flower buds are steamed or boiled and the leaves peeled off and dipped in hollandaise or lemon butter but by the time they get to this stage, tough as old boots.
Friends L and N have huge clumps of these gorgeous flowering artichokes growing like the  thistles they are related to and they return year after year purply loud and proud!

Butcher Pep takes the artichoke to a whole new level stuffing the gap between each leaf with parmesan seasoned breadcrumbs, roasting them and serving with a spicy tomato sauce.
Yummm....if fiddly.