What part of the artichoke do you eat?

reiny I am from CA and we eat the artichoke the whole artichoke. Well the leaves you pull apart and you scrape the bottom part of the inside of the flesh off the leaves. It is not much you get off the leaves but it is tasty. As you work down to the core you can eat more of the leaf. It is not uncommon to dip the artichoke leaves in something I was taught to dip them miracle whip and as I grew up I learned to dip them in butter or vinegar and oil salad dressing. YUM

The bottoms of the leaves (where they are attached to the heart) are soft. You tear off a leaf, put the base of it in your mouth and use your teeth to scrape of the soft bit. When you have dealt with all the leaves, you are left with a bunch of hairs (called the 'choke') which sits on top of the heart (which you must have missed!). It is what's known as a 'conversational' hors d'oevre (or 'starter') it's one of those which is designed to take a long time to eat so that conversation may flow. It also gives the chef time to prepare the next course! Grilling is one way of preparing artichokes. Personally, I prefer to boil them gently in stock for about 20 minutes and then serve them warm with a vinaigrette. I visited a Cheesecake Factory in Marina del Rey and was disappointed. The place appeared to be classy but was really a little tacky when you gave it a second look. The menu seemed to be mostly variations on steak - basically steaks with different sauces and sides. There were one or two chicken dishes but no pork or lamb, for example. I found it difficult to choose a dish which was truly original and different - and not rather over priced for what you get.

I make stuffed artichokes and you take off each leaf and scrape off the stuffing and meat from the leaf until you get to the center where the heart is. There are different ways to prepare artichokes, my family always stuffs them.

My son and I were talking about artichoke the other day. My husband is a picky eater so I knew what his answer would be so I never even ask him food questions. I ask my son if he has ever eaten artichoke and he said no, I have never eaten it either. I have always heard about and see artichoke hearts on the cooking shows but I don't guess I have ever seen anyone eating or trying to eat anything other than the heart. Can you tell me what the artichoke heart tastes like? I also never knew that the Cheesecake Factory served food other than cheesecake since I don't go in there because I don't like cheesecake. I learn something new most every day.

I usually steam them or boil them in salt water. I will steam them for aprox 30 minutes or untill the stem is soft and tender. Then I will take them and pick off the outer leaves one at a time dip them in mayo and drag my teeth across the inside of each leave scraping off a small bit of pulp from the leaf. You dont get much with each leaf more of just a small taste but that is how I have always eaten them. Once all the leaves are gone and I am in to the heart I will remove all the fuzz not sure what its really called but thats what it looks like to me. It would be the seeds I then peal the stem and eat the whole thing dipped in mayo or butter. Hope that helps explain how to eat it just a little bit better. Happy my lotting.

I honestly have no idea. I would have probably eaten that whole thing. I didn't know that that part was edible. I'm a little surprised that you thought the lunches were just ok. I've always thought that Tha Cheesecake factory make great food and have always been impressed with what I got to eat. I'm curious as to what you had so I know not to order as to never be disappointed by going there.

I love artichokes and eat them whenever I can get them. But I think the Cheesecake Factory was 'cheaping out' when they served the outer leaves. In my experience, the outer leaves properly cooked (stuffed or boiled with seasonings) are best eaten by remove each leaf, putting it between your teeth and the drawing it out of your mouth while you bite down enough to get the soft centre of the leaf out of it. Then when all the outer leaves are gone, you can cut up and eat the whole heart. Sorry for your experience, and no, I wouldn't be ordering 'fried artichoke leaves' as an appetizer ever!

Thats funny, one of my high school boyfriends invited me over for dinner and what do ya know, dinner was artichoke (no hearts,lol). I had no clue how to eat it either and just stared at it out of the corner of my eye trying to think of how I could and then I saw my boyfriend eating it as others described--still, i found it kind of pointless because the 'soft' part of leave was not really worth my time i though, even with all the butter. I feel the same way about crabs too though, i just think its a little too much work for a little bit of meat so i dont mess with them, even when we go to buffets.

Hey reiny! I would have been really disappointed too! I love artichoke hearts! I have heard that you are supposed to dip the outside leaves in butter sauce? Someone once told me that? I wouldn't like that either! I have still never been to the Cheesecake Factory and I don't think I would even order food! I would go right to the dessert and get me some Cheesecake! There is one here, but it is really crowded and very expensive, so I have heard! So if I ever do get there I am going straight for the Cheesecake!

URgh, I hate artichoke, just the name wants to make me choke, lol. I also don't like asparagus. Cauliflower doesn't really taste like anything to me unless it has butter or cheese on it. Broccoli is okay. I hated Brussel Sprouts until my sister in law made them. Guess it just depends on who is cooking this stuff, too.