A new vegetable is taking over: Artichokes! The Artichoke Trail features a selection of restaurants and farms in Monterey County, including the town of Castroville, the "Artichoke Capital of the World."
Download the Artichoke Trail Map here.
Artichoke Trail Interactive Map
We just rebuilt our website and this map will be coming back soon!
Attractions
- AG VENTURE TOURS PEZZINI FARM WALK: Walk the Pezzini family farm to demystify the artichoke, learning how to cultivate and prepare the vegetable
- WORLD'S LARGEST ARTICHOKE STATUE: Located at The Giant Artichoke Restaurant
Bars
- CELLA RESTAURANT & BAR: Sip, Don't Choke Cocktail with artichoke amaro and a roasted artichoke rim
- PEARL HOUR: Tiger Style cocktail with bourbon, Artichoke Amaro (Carciofo Amaro), Amaro Dilei and blood orange amaro
Events
- ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL (June 8-9, 2024): The Artichoke Festival is fun for the whole family, featuring local chef demonstrations, artichoke-inspired food, musical entertainment, wine tasting and contests
Farmers Markets and Farm Stands
- ALISAL CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Tuesdays, June-September
- CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA FARMERS MARKET: Thursdays, year-round
- CARMEL FARMERS MARKET: Tuesdays, May-September
- CARMEL VALLEY CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Sundays, year-round
- DEL MONTE CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, year-round
- DOWNTOWN SALINAS SATURDAY CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, year-round
- MARINA EVERYONE'S HARVEST CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Sundays, year-round
- NATIVIDAD CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Wednesdays, May-October
- OLD MONTEREY MARKETPLACE: Tuesdays, year-round
- PACIFIC GROVE CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Mondays, year-round
- PEZZINI FARMS: Artichoke Cupcake
- SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, May-October
- THE POWER PLANT CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, year-round
Food Trucks
- THE CHOKE COACH: Artichoke Po'boy
Information
- OCEAN MIST FARMS: Ocean Mist Farms started as a small artichoke farm in the Salinas Valley, founded by four Italian immigrants in 1924. Today, the company has grown into the leading grower of fresh artichokes sold in grocery stores and restaurants nationwide
- SCATTINI FAMILY FARMS: For over 100 years, Scattini Family Farms have grown The Original Artichoke in Castroville and the Salinas Valley committed to delivering the freshest produce from farm to fork
Restaurants
- BAJA CANTINA & GRILL: Monterey Bay Quesadilla with grilled prawns, artichoke hearts, Jack cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, tartar and dill sauce
- BEAR + FLAG ROADSIDE: Castroville Artichoke Burger, smash burger-style with an artichoke patty, dill Havarti, chow chow mayo, sprouts, tomatoes, pickled red onions on a potato roll
- CARMEL'S BISTRO GIOVANNI: Artichoke Hearts deep-fried with lemon aioli
- FISH HOPPER: Artichoke Ravioli with spinach, mushroom and tomato sauce
- FLAHERTY'S SEAFOOD GRILL & OYSTER BAR: Pacific Crab & Fire-Roasted Artichoke Quesadilla
- FLYING ARTICHOKE: Choke Burger with sautéed sliced artichoke hearts, fresh ground beef, Swiss cheese and basil aioli spread on a sesame bun
- FORGE IN THE FOREST: Roasted Artichoke marinated with balsamic vinegar & charbroiled, served with Dijon mustard dip
- GIANT ARTICHOKE RESTAURANT: An ode to the artichoke with an entire artichoke menu from nachos to pizza
- GUSTO HANDCRAFTED PASTA & PIZZA: Artichoke-Fontina Ravioli - Ravioli Carciofi e Fontina - with a black truffle cream sauce, marinated artichoke, white truffle oil
- JULIA'S VEGETARIAN: Roasted Globe Artichoke served with a vegan garlic and lemon aioli
- LITTLE NAPOLI: Fried artichoke crocchette with aioli della casa
- OLD FISHERMAN'S GROTTO: Grilled Castroville artichoke marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette served with lemon dill aioli. 39 Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey
- PHIL'S FISH MARKET & EATERY: Artichoke Provencal with sautéed scallops, shrimp, garlic and wine. 10700 Merritt Street, Castroville
- RESTAURANT AT BIG SUR RIVER INN: Pasta Castroville with fettuccine pasta, artichoke hearts, creamy pesto sauce,
zucchini, yellow squash, carrots and mushrooms
- SALT WOOD KITCHEN AND OYSTERETTE: Artichoke & Dehydrated Lemon Butter, served with Ad Astra olive bread and local sea salt
- TARPY'S ROADHOUSE: Coal-roasted artichoke with blistered tomatoes and lemon-basil pesto
- THE MEATERY: Artichoke Sausage with pork, preserved lemon and feta
- THE TAP ROOM AT THE LODGE AT PEBBLE BEACH: Crispy Artichoke Hearts & Calamari with green beans, lemon and chipotle aioli
- WOODWARD MARINE MARKET: Crispy Artichoke & Prosciutto Sandwich
Shops
- ELROY'S FINE FOODS: Castrochill artichoke-infused salt by Big Sur Salts
- GIL'S GOURMET: Artichoke & Olive Tapenade
- MONTEREY FARMS AT STAR MARKET: Fresh artichoke hearts hand trimmed and prepared daily in small batches