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       Chef Beaudin’s  travels have taken him to the Caribbean, China, the West Indies, and Rwanda. His approach to cooking is to merge the flavors of the world with modern American cuisine — including artichokes! Sampling the indigenous food and cooking in many exotic places, he developed a  passion for local fare, which […]

“Fresh From the Field” Farmers Market The sense of community that permeates the Festival is at its highest in the Farmers Market building. It’s a place to meet neighbors and chat with friends. It’s also the place to find fresh, healthy, seasonal veggies grown right here in the Salad Bowl of the World, the Salinas […]

What do you get when you put an artichoke, a stalk of Brussels Sprouts, with a head of broccoli and asparagus spears? Depending on your vision, anything from a wacky looking sea otter to a zany take on a tractor. AGRO Art, a three-dimensional fruit and vegetable sculpture contest, is a statement on just how […]

This year’s Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival boasts a show-stopping 24K Magic performance by the Bruno Mars tribute band, Uptown Funk.  This amazing group of performers, decked out in bright blue suit jackets and black sunglasses, will have you up on your feet dancing to the popular sounds of this music icon. Experience the […]

Chef Tony Baker – We have been fortunate to have Tony Baker share his talent at the Artichoke Festival for years! Known by many as the “Artichoke Chef”, Tony is dedicated to sourcing local, seasonal ingredients from the area’s farmers, ranchers and fisherman. As Executive Chef of Montrio Bistro in Monterey, his commitment to cooking with sustainable ingredients […]

Traditions happen when customs are passed from generation to generation. Growing artichokes started as a custom and livelihood for Swiss Italian farmers who planted this thistle as a reminder of home. In 1959, these early farmers came together to raise funds for their community … a place that just happened to have as one of […]