fiddle head ferns, baby artichokes

Has anyone seen any fiddle head ferns or baby artichokes this spring? Is it too late for these? --Joy

Caputo's on Harlem has baby artichokes. Haven't seen any fiddleheads, but a call to Fox and Obel might solve that problem....

The Whole Foods on Ashland had fiddleheads last week.

Bump, has anyone seen baby artichokes this year? I am also interested in big (Mommy?) artichokes at a good price. Any suggestions? Fine Cooking has a whole article about artichokes in this issue and I am participating in the Cook the Issue 2010 contest, wherein one cooks all the recipes from the issue.

Thanks, Jen

P.S. Sample baby artichoke recipe:
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/shav ... giano.aspx

P.P.S. Cook the Issue 2010
http://www.finecooking.com/contest/cook-the-issue-2010

Caputo's has "large artichokes" this week @ 3 for $1.00. I haven't been there to see them.
Jim

Call Harvest Time on Lawrence. I have bought them there in the past and there were cheap, crazy cheap. But it's been a while.

Oddly, a few years in a row I found the babies at Jewel, the totally icky Jewel that I hate going to and they too were puzzling in how cheap they were. On Broadway at Berwyn.) The babies fry up so nicely if you cook them correctly.

I think Trader Joe's sells the little guys this time of year but I hate how they imprison their produce in plastic.

bjt

JimmyB wrote:Caputo's has "large artichokes" this week @ 3 for $1.00. I haven't been there to see them.
Jim

Thanks for the tip, I scored both large (but not huge) and baby artichokes there today. The babies were $1.99 per pound. The big ones were a great deal, considering that Dominicks was advertising large artichokes at 2 for $5. Those would have to be some mighty large artichokes at that price.

I will report back on how they taste. The guy behind me in line had a case of artichokes for $15.

Jen

Anyone care to post their favorite recipe or preparation for either fiddle heads or baby artichokes. I have never made either, and I would like to introduce these to the family while they are in season.

this is a pretty straightforward version that really lets the artichokes shine.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/fried-baby-artichokes

bjt

CM2772 wrote:Anyone care to post their favorite recipe or preparation for either fiddle heads or baby artichokes. I have never made either, and I would like to introduce these to the family while they are in season.

I don't have any fiddlehead recipes, but the current issue of Fine Cooking (#104) has a whole article on artichokes and many recipes feature the babies. As I am trying to cook my way through all the recipes in the issue, I am very grateful for the pointer to cheap artichokes at Caputos this week. Here is my first recipe a fritatta with baby artichokes, leeks, and Taleggio cheese. Not only did Caputos come through with the baby artichokes, but they also had the cheese at the deli counter-- and the guy stocking the cheese counter was kind enough to help me find it. This fritatta is delicious-- a great appetizer with drinks.

The babies:


The fritatta:



Not much left:


The recipe:
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/arti ... ttata.aspx

There are a couple more artichoke recipes in this article-- I will post more as I cook through them. In the meantime, I recommend that you get to Caputos, score some baby artichokes and taleggio, and make this fritatta.

Jen

wow, pie-love, that looks wonderful! Thanks for pointing towards both the recipe and where to get the ingredients. --Joy

My fiddle heads are coming in now. I just simply steam them, and serve with a squeeze of lemon.

Hmmm, I'm all the way out in Oak Lawn; ain't no baby artichokes out here, and I'm dying for some!
Best dish of same that I ever had was in Torremolinos, Spain (Andalusia): baby artichokes halved and sauteed in olive oil with just a hint of garlic and served hot with fresh lemon wedges. The lemon, hint of garlic, and a pinch of sea salt made the artichokes into the best warm salad. Any other hints as to where I can find baby artichokes so I can make some?? I have no clue where Caputo's is.

webdiva wrote: I have no clue where Caputo's is.

I found the baby artichokes at the Caputo's at Harlem and Grand. There are a bunch of other locations, but I can't vouch for their artichoke stock. There is a tab for "Our Stores" in the left margin-- check it out, there may be one near you.

http://caputomarkets.com/

With my limited knowledge of artichokes, I surmise that they are favored in Italian cooking, so if you have any Italian produce places, try there. Good luck!

Jen

Dirks Fishmarket had fiddleheads a week ago.

The next baby artichoke recipe I tried: Shaved Baby Artichokes with Lemon and Parmesan cheese.
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/shav ... giano.aspx

This was another winner-- the dressing is very simple, allowing the taste of the raw artichokes to be enjoyed. The parmesan and basil accent the salad well too. After years of being completely indifferent to artichokes and years of eating indifferent artichokes (ie canned hearts), I think I am becoming a fan.





Jen

Caputo's has large artichokes 4 for $1 this week. The ones I got at the previous sale were 5-7 ounces each-- not jumbo, but quite nice.

Jen

Pie-love, we made that fritatta that you posted about above. It was wonderful! We have not been an "eggs for dinner" kind of family but with a crunchy baguette, some nice olive oil and a bottle of red wine, we were VERY happy.

The tallegio cheese is quite nice. I did wind up driving to the Harlem and Grand Caputos to get it. After trying it, I would say that a nice brie, even a domestic brie would work just as well in this recipe. What's your opinon on that? The tallegio had a texture and flavor that seemed very brie-like but at a $10 a pound price.

There is nothing complicated about the recipe but the prep for both the baby artichokes and, to a lesser extent, the leeks is kind of fussy and a little time consuming. That being said, this was a real winner for our dinner table, something different, rustic but sophisticated, absolutely delicious. THANK YOU again for the inspiration! --Joy

Joy wrote:Pie-love, we made that fritatta that you posted about above. It was wonderful! We have not been an "eggs for dinner" kind of family but with a crunchy baguette, some nice olive oil and a bottle of red wine, we were VERY happy.

The tallegio cheese is quite nice. I did wind up driving to the Harlem and Grand Caputos to get it. After trying it, I would say that a nice brie, even a domestic brie would work just as well in this recipe. What's your opinon on that? The tallegio had a texture and flavor that seemed very brie-like but at a $10 a pound price.

There is nothing complicated about the recipe but the prep for both the baby artichokes and, to a lesser extent, the leeks is kind of fussy and a little time consuming. That being said, this was a real winner for our dinner table, something different, rustic but sophisticated, absolutely delicious. THANK YOU again for the inspiration! --Joy

Thanks Joy, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I agree that brie might make a good substitute-- luckily (for the price) the recipe doesn't use too much cheese!

Cheers, Jen

So the annual question is: Have you seen any fiddlehead ferns or baby artichokes this year yet?

A fine sign of spring is the big article in today's WSJ about baby artichokes (and mama artichokes too). There are lots of fabulous photos, five recipes and a "how-to" illustration in the paper paper. And a less-visually-impressive but more accessible version is on the WSJ website. The article and recipe compilation is by Dorie Greenspan, cookbook author ("Around My French Table") who even replies to one of the comments on the website.

The fritatta thread has got me thinking about the babies! :-) Now... where can we find some?--Joy

I am new here and I like Fiddleheads. I thought I would start asking early.

Are there any groups or resources to forage for fiddleheads in the Chicago metro area, prefrably north, but I am game to go "afield"?

Are there grocers or greengrocers that stock them? One year Sunset Foods in Northbrook had a large box and then never again. The Fresh Market in Wilmette had small half pint plastic containers a couple years ago and then never again. Produce managers look at me like I am from another planet when I ask.

Help please.

Am I too late for fiddlehead ferns this year? I just need a couple of stems for a floral centerpiece, preferably with a longer stem still in tact. How do you find them in the darker burgundy color? Eataly has them, but they are short (no stem).

Splurged on some at Whole Foods but the stems were short. (they were delicious sauteed with some asparagus and garlic) If you don't intend to eat them, could you find an agreeable gardener who has ferns coming up? Don't think my ostrich ferns have emerged yet, but others with more sun in their gardens might have them...