Farmer Jerry Rutiz has artichokes at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. They are the seeded variety and therefore a little more tender. See pictures of his stand here.
Market Report
Brendan Collins is the chef/owner of Waterloo and City in Culver City (12517 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City). He is making a salad with salt roasted torpedo beets. The beets are buried in salt and roasted. He serves it with a blackberry balsamic vinegar. A recipe for Brendan's blackberry vinaigrette is here.