WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT: The Artichoke

The Trinacria

The Trinacria is the ancient symbol of Sicily. It features the head of the Gorgon, Medusa, (yes, the woman with the snakes for hair) surrounded by three rotating legs. It is steeped in mythology with many interpretations. The most popular one may be that the Medusa represents the fertility of the Sicilian land and the three legs a myth of three nymphs who danced around the world gathering the best soil, fruits, and stones, who then threw them into the Mediterranean Sea to create the island of Sicily. The imagery may be odd but the message is clear - it is one historic and beautiful island.

I would like to suggest another more accessible one: The artichoke. Here is my reasoning - 

Artichokes, actually the flower of a thistle plant, thrive in Sicily's dry, warm climate and grow virtually all over the island. Therefore, they make up a large part of the Sicilian diet. No formal family dinner was complete without my Sicilian born grandmother's stuffed artichokes. Filled with spiced bread crumbs and baked to perfection, they became the favorite part of every big meal. But, until you learn how, they can be challenging to eat.

Because they are in the thistle family, the outer leaves are thick and spinney. It leads one to wonder who thought that they might have been edible in the first place. In fact, they look rather intimidating. The process is to slowly peal the outer leaves off, one at a time, while scraping the soft, fleshy inner part of the leaf with your teeth. This is the part that you actually eat while discarding the rest of it. Little by little, slowly but surely, they become more tender so that you consume the entire leaf. Eventually you arrive at THE best part - the heart which is tender, juicy and full of flavor. It may take a little work to get there but it is sure worth the effort.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I believe that they are also a metaphor for the soul of the Sicilian people. We can be thorny and tough on the outside, even intimidating. However, if you are willing to put some effort into pealing away the layers, a tender heart lies within.

F LoBuono