INTO THE HEARTLAND

Pulling the leaves off thistles and scraping them with your top teeth. That’s what you do in Castroville, which is the Artichoke Capital of the World, mainly because it says so. Here’s where to do all things artichoke. Pezzini Farms, 460 Nashua Road, Castroville, (800) 3476118. www.pezzinifarms.com. Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. A well-known artichoke-centric produce stand and artichoke field where, during harvest, you can watch the artichoke sorting machine in action. (Little artichokes drop from the belt first, big ones last.) Also a good place to buy artichoke bread, artichoke cupcakes and coffee mugs that say “Keep Calm and Eat Artichokes.” The Giant Artichoke restaurant and store, 11261 Merritt St., Castroville, (831) 633-3501. Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Take a selfie at the 15-foot-tall “giant” artichoke, then have an order of deep-fried artichokes with dipping sauce, because anything deep-fried and dipped tastes good. Ag Venture Tours, (831) 7618463. www.agventuretours.com. Take a fascinating mini-van tour of Monterey County farmers’ fields with Evan Oakes, and learn exactly why snails and moths like artichokes even more than you do. Francos Norma Jean’s Nightclub, 10639 Merritt St., Castroville, (831) 633-2090. A gay bar and dance hall with a large sign in front showing Marilyn Monroe, the former artichoke queen, popping out of the middle of an artichoke. Thistle Hut, 2047 Watsonville Road, Castroville, (831) 6334888. Great name, OK produce.