Community

Coming from as far away as Charlotte, N.C., more than 35 youths

Miguel Alcantar fills in a hole around a freshly planted tree at

New Hope Community Church Pastor Malcolm MacPhail was a 36-year-old father of four when he got the first of a series of devastating diagnoses. It was 1994 and he and his wife were in the process of closing escrow on a house when he learned that he had CML—chronic myeloid leukemia—which his doctor said would kill him in two years.

With past champions touting concoctions such as Stacked Steak Napoleon on Garlic Paper with Asparagus, Radicchio, Shiitakes and Stilton; Warm Weather Watermelon Crabmeat Kissed South Seas Soup; or Spicy Garlic Butter Cookies with Garlic Goat Cheese and Honey; the Great Garlic Festival Recipe Contest and Cook-Off is no stranger to edgy ingredient mash-ups.

While other 13-year-old girls chased boys and swapped outfits,