I have a very dear friend whom I have known since university days, who is a pretty strict vegetarian. No leather handbags or shoes or buffalo hide jackets for this girlie, oh no, even her cats have been raised as vegetarians, at least whilst in her presence . (You know how canny cats can be – they once admitted to me that they nipped down the road after hours for a quick mouseburger but didn’t like to upset the mistress too much so all was kept very hush hush). Whenever my friend and her adorable family come to stay we attempt at least for a few meals to adopt their eating habits and try some new meat-free dishes. There have been some real successes – our delicious morning fruit smoothies for example – but a few things have been sampled once, never to be retained in our daily menu. The artichoke is one such, even when presented impeccably with a fine vinaigrette dressing, I’m afraid I still prefer it as a beautiful oddity to observe and photograph than as a culinary delicacy. I’m sure I’m a philistine but here are some photos to show how much prettier they would be in a vase than on a plate……..
View from a French Hillside 
Wonderful photos!
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Thankyou very much ideed!
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Pretty in a vase, but yummy in the tummy! 🙂
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I’m sure you’re right busy lady, I’lll have to try another recipe! 🙂
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Yum, give me the heart. 🙂 Exquisite photos.
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I really wish I liked them! Will have to have another go and try the heart bits! and thankyou for your kind comment ! 🙂
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Ridiculously fab photos yet again.
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You are far too kind Madame 😀
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Smashing.
But remember the old adage…A man could starve in a room full of artichokes…..You need to burn off a days worth of calories to peel the bloody things, and all you end up with, is a thumbnail sized bit of semi-edibility….
I’m with you, stick’em in a vase!
🙂
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Quite so sh – who can be arsed – forgive my French – but I found them a bit slimy too – vase arrangement for me every time 🙂
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Who could be derriered?
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🙂
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I refuse to panic for those poor kittens who are obligate carnivores, as you eased my worries by letting it slip that they have access to the local outdoor markets.
And of course, there is nothing more soothing than laying my eyes upon some of your weekly artwork. Gorgeous and divinely edible. And I love the knife. Kinda coveting that little fellow.
Terrific post, Jane.
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HI Shelley, so glad you like it! The knife is a French classic called Opinel, every Frenchman (and some women I’m pleased to say) in the countryside knows these and their slightly more iconic Laguiole counterparts!
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Reblogged this on First Night Design and commented:
I am in complete agreement with Jane – artichokes are far lovelier to look at than eat!
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You are so kind for the reblog Sarah! Many thanks!
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Very lovely photography! Just beautiful.
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Thankyou very much indeed Itaya Art!
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Stunning captures! 🙂
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Thankyou very much Joanne! delighted you like them! 🙂
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I do like artichokes but yes, you need some patience. The husband of a good friend of mine eats them raw. Mind you, it’s a pass time…And you’re right, the pictures are glorious.
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Many thanks Olga, much appreciated!
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Beautiful photographs, I found your blog via First Night Designs…lovely! 🙂
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Hello frenchapple10! Thankyou! I’m delighted you like my blog, First Night Design was very kind to share my post! Just visited your blog, we obviously share a fascination for many of the same things, old documents, found objects!
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Reblogged this on rebloggobbler.
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Thankyou Douglas! Really appreciate your re-blog!
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