Giant Artichoke | |
---|---|
![]() The sculpture in 2009, next to the restaurant | |
Artist | Ray Bei |
Year | 1963 |
Medium | Concrete and rebar |
Subject | Artichoke |
Dimensions | 20 ft (6.1 m) tall 12 ft (3.7 m) wide |
36°45′45″N 121°45′11″W / 36.7624°N 121.7530°W |
Giant Artichoke, also known as the World's Largest Artichoke, is a large sculpture of an artichoke in Castroville, California, commonly referred to as the "Artichoke Capital of the World". It is located adjacent to the New American cuisine-serving restaurant of the same name. It is made from concrete and rebar. [1] [2]
Ray Bei, the owner of a roadside restaurant and vegetable stand, built the sculpture in 1963. [1] [2] [3] He was the son of a local artichoke farmer and found a way to convert the crop into a tourist attraction. Bei's fruit stand still stands next to his restaurant as of 2015. [4]
The restaurant next to the sculpture, also called the Giant Artichoke, serves a variety of artichoke-themed dishes, including deep-fried artichoke, steamed artichoke, roasted artichoke, artichoke pizza, artichoke dip, artichoke bread, artichoke cupcakes, and artichoke nachos. [2] [3]
Giant Artichoke | |
---|---|
![]() The sculpture in 2009, next to the restaurant | |
Artist | Ray Bei |
Year | 1963 |
Medium | Concrete and rebar |
Subject | Artichoke |
Dimensions | 20 ft (6.1 m) tall 12 ft (3.7 m) wide |
36°45′45″N 121°45′11″W / 36.7624°N 121.7530°W |
Giant Artichoke, also known as the World's Largest Artichoke, is a large sculpture of an artichoke in Castroville, California, commonly referred to as the "Artichoke Capital of the World". It is located adjacent to the New American cuisine-serving restaurant of the same name. It is made from concrete and rebar. [1] [2]
Ray Bei, the owner of a roadside restaurant and vegetable stand, built the sculpture in 1963. [1] [2] [3] He was the son of a local artichoke farmer and found a way to convert the crop into a tourist attraction. Bei's fruit stand still stands next to his restaurant as of 2015. [4]
The restaurant next to the sculpture, also called the Giant Artichoke, serves a variety of artichoke-themed dishes, including deep-fried artichoke, steamed artichoke, roasted artichoke, artichoke pizza, artichoke dip, artichoke bread, artichoke cupcakes, and artichoke nachos. [2] [3]