Farming carried Half Moon Bay into the twentieth century, with Brussels sprouts, artichokes, mushrooms and dairy. A county history from 1916 boasted that the town’s artichokes were known from San Francisco to New York.
Artichokes came to California with Spanish immigrants. Deep-fried artichoke hearts are a familiar dish in coastal California. Artichokes were grown in Henry VIII’s garden in 1530 and were in vogue in European courts from the mid-1600s. Farms along the Coastside still grow them, along with pumpkins, flowers and houseplants.
Artichoke hearts, along with Brussels sprouts and Portuguese linguisa sandwiches, are among the local favorites sold at the Art and Pumpkin Festival.
More on this site: farms and pumpkins