Artichoke Spread

Ready for the simplest, most impressive cocktail snack to serve at your next party? Spread a dollop of this artichoke cream from Agnoni on warm bruschetta and top with a shaving of parmesan cheese. That's it! This decadently simple spread blends tender Roman artichokes with olive oil and a touch of vinegar for brightness, giving it a pure artichoke flavor that's miles easier than preparing the spiky vegetables yourself. Italy is the world’s leading grower of artichokes—and probably leads in their consumption, too! Artichokes are believed to have originated with Italian farmers in the 15th century, who transformed punishingly prickly wild thistles into the tender vegetables we know and love today. You’d be hard-pressed to find a Roman trattoria that doesn’t serve them either braised in olive oil and white wine or deep-fried to a golden crisp. In the 1960s, newlyweds Neno and Nena Agnoni bought a farm in the hills outside Cori in Lazio, the central Italian region that is home to Rome. To