Episode 43: The Great Artichoke War and the Origin of the Edible Thistle
What do artichokes, the Mafia, and New York City have in common?
In the 1930s, organized crime wasn't just making money from gambling and bootlegging—it was allegedly controlling the city's artichoke market. Prices soared, vendors were intimidated, and one of the most unusual battles against organized crime began when Mayor Fiorello La Guardia temporarily banned the sale of baby artichokes to break the racket.
In this episode of True Crime Culinary, we explore the incredible true story behind the Great Artichoke War, how organized crime operated like a business, why artichokes became valuable…
The skinny
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