In the wake of Garlic Festival XXVI, the following represent our
PICKS and PANS:
PICKS: The Pyro Chefs. That’s with a capital
”
P
”
and a capital
”
C.
”
In the wake of Garlic Festival XXVI, the following represent our PICKS and PANS:
PICKS: The Pyro Chefs. That’s with a capital “P” and a capital “C.” Sure, it’s a glamour job – lots of air time on TV and “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowds – but it’s one of the toughest festival gigs. The new stoves this year produced huge flame-ups causing impressed onlookers to gasp and temperatures to soar. Gilroy’s Pyro Chefs handled it all and, most importantly, delivered perfect calamari to Gourmet Alley for customers to feast on. Year in and year out, it’s the tastiest treat at the festival.
PAN: Sorry but the new pasta con pesto didn’t measure up to the tried-and-true version. The spaghetti noodles dunked in pesto with chunks of garlic are a festival staple. We’d suggest a return to the pesto of old, perhaps with a slightly altered recipe to make the dish a bit lighter. But let’s face it, the Garlic Festival isn’t about lighter fare.
PICK: Placing expansive, free-standing shade umbrellas on the festival grounds marked a stroke of marketing genius: shade for the festival-goers and marketing for the company. Hopefully, the festival received some sponsorship money for that, too.
PICK: Letting the crowd dancing to Shaboom’s music Saturday bat the beach balls around. In years past, security has sometimes gone overboard with restrictions as the popular rock ‘n’ roll band entertained the crowd. This year, the watchwords were mellow and enjoy.
PICK: The 2004 commemorative wine glasses. The stout shape represented a cool departure from the standard and usual. The heavy base makes the glass better for outdoor use because it’s more stable. The crowds agreed, buying them all.
PAN: The Combination Plate #2. Even the delicious scampi couldn’t save this combo from finishing a distant second. Think of it this way: Combo #1, Lance Armstong; Combo #2, Andreas Kloden.
PICK: Sangria and Tickle Pink wine coolers at the Gilroy Foundation booth. Guglielmo wines provided the base for a refreshing treat which kept the lines forming all weekend.
PAN: The double-sided Gourmet Alley. One side is all we need. If the lines form for a little while, it’s OK. The food is worth the wait. Let’s keep it simple and smart.
PICK: The festival cook-off. Everything went smooth on stage and the winner, Ginger Moreno, couldn’t have been more thrilled or more gracious. The Food Network should film this wonderful bite of Americana every year.
PICK: The volunteers who cheerfully work to keep the customers happy and the festival running smoothly. The Garlic Festival is such a magnificent display of Gilroy spirit each year. It’s magic, truly, with a wink and a nod toward the pungent bulb.
