Travel Channel coming to festival for Taste of America
Gilroy – The Garlic Festival has everything: garlic ice cream, Herbie bobblehead dolls, cook offs, beer gardens and … television cameras?
Mark Decarlo, host of the “Taste of America” show, will be at the festival on Saturday, to check out all the event encompasses for its third season on the Travel Channel.
“We wanted to go for seasons one and two, but it just didn’t work out,” said Ben Calvert, producer for the show. “We’ve known about (the Garlic Festival) since the show started. It’s a world renowned festival.”
John Zekanoski, past president for the festival, will act as a guide for the host.
“I love to show off Gilroy and show off the festival,” Zekanoski said. “And I think this is a great opportunity to do that.”
Zekanoski said he’ll make sure to bring the crew immediately to Gourmet alley to emphasize all the food at the festival. He also said he’s going to let the crew know about Garlic Idol, a spin-off of the extremely popular “American Idol,” because the buzz surrounding it has already created a stir.
“I hope people haven’t taken (the festival) for granted,” he said. “I hope they know what they have. This is (year) 28. Not too many things last that long.”
Calvert said he wishes he could be there on Saturday.
“The host and crew are really looking forward to going to Gilroy and going to the Garlic Festival,” Calvert said. “I myself am jealous.”
The show airs on the Travel Channel on Tuesdays at 8 and 8:30pm. Calvert said those interested in when the show will air should keep checking the Web site at http://travel.discovery.com
