The artichoke king - Eugenio Ruberto

Read and Listen to the Fairy Tale “The Artichoke King”

Curiosity Corner

The artichoke is a plant of the Asteraceae family, native to the Mediterranean, which is cultivated for its edible flower heads.

The name derives from the Arabic kharshuf, which means “spiny.” The artichoke has beneficial health properties, thanks to the presence of phenolic compounds like cynarin, which stimulates bile production and promotes digestion.

Artichokes can be consumed in various ways: boiled, fried, baked, in a salad, pan-fried, or in the form of pesto. Artichoke pesto is a versatile cream that can be used as a condiment for pasta, to stuff croutons or sandwiches, or as an accompaniment for cheeses and cured meats.

To prepare artichoke pesto, you can use the stems, bottoms, hearts of fresh artichokes, or artichokes preserved in oil, blended with almonds, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and the artichokes’ cooking water. Artichoke pesto has a delicate and aromatic flavour, with a crunchy twist provided by the almonds.

Let’s Read Together

Hello everyone, today I want to tell you the fairy tale of the artichoke who wanted to be king. It’s a funny and somewhat absurd story, but one that hides a deep moral. Are you ready? Then let’s begin.

Once upon a time, there was an artichoke living in a vegetable garden with other vegetables. He was a very proud and vain artichoke who thought he was superior to everyone else. One day, looking up at the sky, he saw a crown of clouds and thought: “How I wish I were the king of this garden! I would be the most handsome, the richest, and the most powerful of all. Everyone would obey me and admire me. Yes, I was born to be king!“

And so the artichoke began making plans to realize his dream. First of all, he got himself a crown of thorns, which he placed on his spiky head. Then he made himself a cloak of dry leaves, which he draped over his shoulders. Finally, he built himself a wooden scepter, which he gripped tightly. Dressed like this, he presented himself to the other vegetables and said: “Listen closely, I am your new king! From today onward, you must do everything I tell you. Anyone who disobeys me will be severely punished. I am the artichoke, the king of the garden!“

The other vegetables were astonished by such arrogance and presumption. No one wanted to recognize the artichoke as king, but they were also afraid of his thorns and his scepter. So, to avoid trouble, they decided to pretend to accept his authority. But in reality, they despised him and mocked him behind his back.

The artichoke didn’t notice anything and continued to impose his unjust and capricious laws. For example, he forbade the other vegetables from drinking the water from the fountain, because he wanted it all for himself. Or he forced them to work for him, digging holes, planting seeds, and harvesting fruits. Or he even obliged them to sing his praises and give him gifts.

But one day, as the artichoke sat on his makeshift throne, a loud and authoritative voice was heard saying: “Who are you to claim to be the king of the garden? I am the true king, the master of this land. And you are just an insignificant and annoying artichoke. Now I’ll show you who’s in charge here!“

It was the farmer, who had come to harvest the vegetables to take them to the market. The artichoke tried to run away, but it was too late. The farmer grabbed him by the neck and violently pulled him from the ground. Then he threw him into a basket along with other artichokes destined for sale.

The artichoke realized he had been wrong about everything and bitterly regretted his behaviour. But now it was too late to make amends. As he was being carried away by the farmer, he heard the laughter and jeers of the other vegetables, who were happy to be rid of him.

And so ends the fairy tale of the artichoke who wanted to be king. The moral is that one should not be proud and vain, but humble and respectful of others. Otherwise, you risk ending up badly like the poor artichoke.