I’ve waited ten long years to go to the Gilroy garlic festival! Ten years… the days leading up to it was the feeling I use to get waiting for Santa Claus; I was shaking with anticipation. So instead of a new red rider or double pump bb gun I was looking forward to big vats of pickled garlic, a garlic strong man, garlic shooting out of a cannon, a garlic fortune teller… and much like “Duff man” on the Simpsons, I wanted to see a bona fide “stinkin garlic man” equipped with a flaming red cape. But that wasn’t how it played out, not even close! Sure there was plenty of food with garlic in it, but to me that wasn’t enough to satisfy any food lovers imagination. Oh ya, don’t let me forget the garlic ice cream.. I guess that was unique enough..
ok ok.. I suppose it was a fun gathering. They did have beer gardens (3 total) and plenty of live entertainment. The vibe was happy even in the 100 degree plus heat and people seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was wonderful for the local economy and it appeared that a lot of locals took part and volunteered their time. We ate garlic artichoke fritters, barbecued pork, crayfish, grilled corn with garlic butter and some roast garlic with two small rounds of stale toast. In the end I have to say that I wouldn’t recommend the festival to any food lover. It was simply too commercial and lacked soul; plus the drive was long and hot.. next!

This is Chef Stephen with another story from the “flavor highway” chronicles . Until next time!

Aloha from me and all the gang at Hands On Gourmet

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 5th, 2007 at 10:43 am and is filed under Food Experiences. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.