The quintessence of Davis Day cuisine is a cornucopia of vegetables and fruit. And the star of the show is the glorious Globe Artichoke, Cynara Cardunculus. If you have a personal connection to this wonderful plant, you just might be a Davis. Other folks may be shocked that anyone could consume what looks like, well, something that could make you “choke.”
The Globe Artichoke, hereafter referred to simply as artichoke, comes from the Arabic, Ardi-Shoki (ارضي شوكي), literally translated as “ground thorny.” The artichoke has been revered and consumed for thousands of years. Although its exact origins are unknown, artichoke seeds were among the food plants found in the excavation of the Roman Mons Claudianus granodiorite quarry in Egypt. As far back as the 1st century to the mid 3rd century A.D., artichokes were a staple in the Roman diet. We therefore believe that the discoverer of the artichoke as an edible plant was likely a person named Davis—or at least someone who knew someone named Davis, or as they say in Rome, “Davisi”!—thus marking the first direct connection of Davisness and artichokeness.
This marvelous edible thistle can grow from three to six feet tall. Atop, sets the “globe”—the edible portion—with its succulent triangular scale-like protrusions and a fleshy base, affectionately referred to as the “heart.” The bract that crowns the heart is a mass of immature florets, literally called the “choke,” which must be gently spooned out and discarded.
If it were not for the consumption of the artichoke on Davis Day, the “globe” would develop a mass of individual, brilliant purple florets. To the left is a picture of an artichoke not eaten on Davis Day (poor thing).
Although artichokes can be propagated from root cuttings, they are most commonly grown from seed. These perennials produce an edible flower generally during the second and subsequent years after planting. Globally—pun intended—artichoke cultivation is concentrated around the Mediterranean basin. And though the largest producers are Italy, Spain, and France, in the United States, California grows almost all of the artichoke sold in the US. Eighty percent of the California crop is grown in Monterey County. Castroville, Monterey County, is designated “The Artichoke Center of the World.”
So, some people may ask, “Why the artichoke”?
Symbolism.
It is speculated that the first Davis in America, Thomas Davis, formerly of Marlborough, England, came by boat in 1641. And believe it or not, the first artichoke seeds, like Davis, were also brought by boat! Unbelievable, right? Unlike Davis, however, the seeds were transported into Louisiana by the French and into California by the Spanish. But even so, just as the name “Davis” would become the sixth most common name in the US, artichokes were furrowed into American soil, cultivated and tendered, and within 365 years have become a mainstay product in grocery stores across the US. This almost supernatural connection would inevitably link the old-world edible to this unique new-world celebration.
Further, the artichoke, when steamed or boiled, issues a wealth of nourishment to the body, just as the Davises issue a wealth of support and community spirit when matured through the fires of life and seasoned with the conviviality of family celebration. In fact, according to the USDA Nutrient Database, for every 3.5 ounces of artichoke consumed, the Davis Day Celebrant will receive the following benefits:
| 63.6 Calories | 3.5 grams protein |
| 14.3 grams carbohydrates | 0.2 milligrams copper (8 % RDA) |
| 0.4 grams fat | 1.3 milligrams niacin (7 % RDA) |
| 10.3 grams fiber | 0.1 milligrams riboflavin (6 % RDA) |
| 107 micrograms folate (27 % RDA) | 0.1 milligrams vitamin B6 (5 % RDA) |
| 17.8 micrograms vitamin K (22 % RDA) | 0.1 milligrams thiamine (4 % RDA) |
| 8.9 milligrams vitamin C (15 % RDA) | 0.7 milligrams iron (4 % RDA) |
| 50.4 milligrams magnesium (13 % RDA) | 0.3 milligrams pantothenic acid (3 % RDA) |
| 0.3 milligrams manganese (13 % RDA) | 25.2 milligrams calcium (3 % RDA) |
| 343 milligrams potassium (10 % RDA) | 0.5 milligrams zinc (3 % RDA) |
| 87.6 milligrams phosphorus (9 % RDA) | A convivial Davis Day meal (100% RDA) |
Whether eaten or left to flower, the artichoke is a thing to be revered. It is a token of our earthly connection to each other, as through its absorption we share a similar experience and a similar edifying benefit.
May all Davises around the Globe, through their consumption of a globe, be united and nourished by the unification.
Hail to the “thorny ground” that brings forth the health of common life for all Davis celebrants.