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A magnitude-3.3 earthquake hit Thursday evening near Hollister,

For the next 12 months, I'll be inviting you to my table. Sharing stories, anecdotes, lessons from the kitchen and, of course, recipes from my new cookbook, "Molto Batali" (ecco, 2011). And it's all about family meals.

The current exhibit in the Gilroy City Hall Gallery is by photographer Rachelle Lee. An Idaho native who relocated to Gilroy with her husband in 2004, she was quick to tell me that she loves Gilroy for its small town feeling, the lovely views and most of all the friendly people. The exhibit featuring portraits of children will be on view through March and April.

Your wrists are sore, you're trying to make things better. So

Hey, so I really, really like John Melone’s idea of a BBQ competition at the Garlic Festival. It’s  a slam dunk match. The son of the late Rudy Melone, co-founder of the festival, could be on to the next big food event at our fest, one that could attract another wave of media attention and add even more zest to the crowd appeal. I watch BBQ Pitmasters on TV. It’s a reality television series which pits three cooks against one another in a timed competition with cash and prizes on the line, including a shot at $50,000 for winning the whole shebang as the Kingsford BBQ Champion. Myron Mixon, the winningest man in BBQ, and BBQ Masters Tuffy Stone and Aaron Franklin are the usual judges. If you like to BBQ or enjoy cooking, it’s a fascinating show filled with a dizzying array of different cookers and methods. Most competitions are held at festivals in the south at places like the Barnesville BBQ and Blues Festival in Georgia, so I’d bet burnt ends from the beef brisket that Myron and company would love to make a beeline for California and the Garlic Festival. The “Pigs in the Park with Garlic” BBQ competition (which I’m sure will have a new name next year) begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday to the right of the Cook-off Stage with the judging at 4:45 p.m. Wander by – maybe they’ll even put out a suggestion box for a new name … Q’d up at the Garlic Fest, Grilling Garlic Gurus, Up in Garlic Smoke ... c’mon, ya’ll got one …