The mysterious vegetable root/tuber Jerusalem Artichoke. Roasted with rosemary and thyme and served with Thai green chicken curry. I had never heard of it before Kris made the wild claim it was his favourite vegetable and that cook it we must. I was initially averse to trying them, due to a longstanding distrust of yams and an indifferent attitude towards kumara, but perhaps my palette has matured and deliciousness ensued. Jerusalem artichokes have that ugly on the outside, sweet on the inside appearance and would probably do well at internet dating but not so well on the speed dating circuit.
"which way soever they be dressed and eaten, they stir and cause a filthy loathsome stinking wind within the body, thereby causing the belly to be pained and tormented, and are a meat more fit for swine than men."
Food critic John Goodyer of Gerard's Herbal, on the Jerusalem Artichoke, 1621.