Amateur chefs from around the country are invited to submit their very best original garlic recipes for the 41st annual Great Garlic Cook-Off, one of the most prestigious cooking competitions in the country. Eight finalists will be selected to compete on stage at the Gilroy Garlic Festival July 27 for the coveted garlic crown and a grand cash prize. Applications must be submitted online by May 1.
According to recipe contest co-chairs Denise Buessing and Nikki Dequin, each original recipe must include a minimum of six cloves of fresh garlic or three teaspoons of chopped or minced garlic. The recipes will be prepared on the state-of-the-art Garlic Cook-Off Stage and must be plated and served to a panel of judges in two hours time. The winner receives $3,000, with second place receiving $1,500.
All contestants also get the opportunity to share the stage with a celebrity chef host, who will be announced in May.
In the 2018 competition, Will Simbol from New York beat out seven other finalists to claim the garlic crown with his winning dish of Savory Crunchy Freshy Tangy Shrimpy Herby Garlic Lumpia Wrap. Other recent winners have included Smoky Salsa Roja Shrimp and Roasted Garlic Cotija Grits and Garlic Goat Cheese Bacon Soufflé with Creamy Garlic Mustard Sauce.
Complete contest rules and the online application form are available at gilroygarlicfestival.com/festival/cooking-events/great-garlic-cook-off. Applications must be received no later than 4pm May 1. Submissions should be provided in recipe form and accompanied by a photograph of the final dish. Entries are limited to two recipes per person. Complete contest rules are posted at gilroygarlicfestival.com.The 41st annual Gilroy Garlic Festival will be on July 26-28 at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy, California. Presented by Raley’s, Bel Air, and Nob Hill Foods, this three-day celebration features gourmet garlicky food, live entertainment, cooking competitions, and fun for the whole family. For more information, go to gilroygarlicfestival.com.
