The 62nd Annual Artichoke Festival 2022 is happening Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12, at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center at 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey, with the theme, “The Heart of the Harvest.”
Advance Artichoke Festival 2022 admission tickets are available at https://artichokefestival.org/tickets/ and at the door, ranging from $15 for adults; $5 for youth 6-12, $10 for active military and seniors (62+). Children under 6 are free. Wine Tasting passes are sold separately, $25 per adult (21+). Special discount ticket packages will include Family Pack for two adults and two children for $30 (save $10), and the It’s a Date package for two adults with wine tasting tickets for $70 (save $10).
The festival organizers’ passion to give back is reflected in this year’s festival theme: “The Heart of the Harvest.” The hearts and minds of the organization are set on enriching the lives of local youth — by supporting the programs that serve them, helping to build a future in which they’ll have the skills and knowledge they’ll need to grow and flourish as community-minded leaders.
Thanks to sponsors and community support, last year’s event was a success and we were able to give back more than $45,000 in cash donations to our nonprofit associates and partners. But the need for sponsorship support continues to be as important to the festival as ever. The Artichoke Festival can provide sponsors with the opportunity to bridge their own corporate-giving goals with the festival’s.
The festival will showcase the full range of tastes that the Monterey County farming community has to offer: artichoke cooking demonstrations by local celebrity chefs; a bountiful farmer’s market with freshly harvested produce from Monterey County and beyond; an artichoke agricultural education exhibit; live stage entertainment; family-friendly fun activities; and artichokes prepared in a variety of delicious ways, including the fan-favorite fried baby artichokes, plus artichokes steamed, grilled, and in unique forms such as lumpia, burritos, sausage, cupcakes and even ice cream.
Recipe Spotlight from Sous Chef Kevin Fisher at Sea Root Restaurant Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa. He will be doing a live cooking demo at the Artichoke Festival
Kevin Fisher’s love for food began in his childhood home where his mother would make delicious meals. His father worked in the produce industry which made him a picky eater, but not in the traditional way. His desire for excellent quality in food and his natural love for cooking gave Kevin many opportunities in his career. Kevin began working at Hullabaloo with his brother in 2001, and from there his career took off. For the last 12 years Kevin has planted his roots at Hyatt Regency Monterey, where he found his passion with working in an expo kitchen. “I love that I have instant gratification of watching the plate land and seeing the reactions.” When Kevin isn’t preparing what he hopes to be a lasting impression with the restaurant’s guests, he loves all things car related, going camping, and enjoying the outdoors.
Artichoke dip recipe
Run the artichoke under cold water pulling apart the leaves to clean out any dirt. With a pair of sheers snip of the tip of each leaf, with a sharp chef’s knife or serrated knife cut off about ½” of the top of the artichoke and hold in cold lemon water until your ready to steam them. Depending on the size of the artichoke it will take about thirty minutes. To determine the doneness, insert a paring knife in the base, it will slide in if it is finished. From this point you need to separate the leaves or the crown from the heart then scoop out the choke or the tinny thistles. You now have a clean heart. Take the leaves and roast for 15-18 min. at 350*, now combine all ingratiates in a mixing bowl. Check seasoning and place in oven safe vessel topped with some bread crumb and bake @ 350 till hot through and serve with pita chips or crusty bread.
- Artichoke hearts, cleaned 16 oz.
- Cream cheese whipped 8 oz.
- Swiss cheese, shredded 8 oz.
- Parsley, chopped 2 oz.
- Spinach, blanched & chopped 4 oz.
- Yellow bell peppers, diced 1 ea.
- Salt & pepper 1/2t ea.
Again this year, festival-goers will enjoy artichoke eating and harvest contests, arts and crafts vendors, a family fun run, and the ever-popular wine tasting event, featuring the wines of small-production, boutique wineries from around California.
For more information on this Artichoke Festival 2022, visit www.artichokefestival.org.