Alcachofas con Jamón

IN ZARAGOZA THERE IS A SMALL SUBURBAN RESTAURANT OWNED BY A MAN WHO HAS MADE HIS LIFE STUDYING JAMÓN. HE IS A BRILLIANT CORTADOR (SEE PREVIOUS PAGE) WHO JOKINGLY SAYS HE SOLD HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL TO BE ABLE TO CUT JAMÓN SO WELL. ON ANY GIVEN DAY HE WILL HAVE THREE DIFFERENT JAMONES FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS ON HIS BAR READY FOR SLICING. THIS IS ONE OF THE DISHES HE SERVED ME ONE DAY: BRILLIANTLY SOFT ARTICHOKES IN A DELICATE JAMÓN AND SHERRY-FLAVOURED SAUCE.