Carciofi! Artichokes..

A lovely bouquet of artichokes, one of my two favorite vegetables (the other--asparagus). The Romans then and now highly valued and served a wide variety of thistles and prickly edibles. When in season varieties unknown or rarely seen in America, proliferate. This and the following photos give you an idea of what you will find at Rome's central outdoor market place--Campo de' fiori.