I was watching a show the other night and it featured renowned and very talented (not to mention, easy on the eye) chef Curtis Stone talking about artichokes as a great Australian produce. I’m surprised I remember half of what he was saying considering it’s very difficult to concentrate when Curtis Stone is well, being Curtis Stone.
But it reminded me of the artichoke market that was recently held at Federation Square, where the humble vegetable took centerstage in a winter celebration unlike any other.
Supported by Slow Food, the day featured live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs: Taxi Dining Room’s Tony Twichett, Pei Modern’s Matthew Germanchis, Royal Saxon’s Glenn Laurie, and Rosa’s Kitchen’s Rosa Mitchell.
During the day, visitors could also attend free workshops to learn how to prepare and preserve artichokes, explore an artichoke garden, or even to learn about little interesting facts.
For instance, did you know that the USDA found that this humble vegetable has more antioxidants than any other vegetable?
It’s a shame Curtis himself wasn’t there talking about the artichokes. But you know, I probably would’ve been too distracted to listen anyway!
Text: Nina Mostafa
Images: James Ser
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