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Let's eat.

From Big Sur's killer cliff-clinging eateries to Salinas' unparalleled produce, this blog aims to sniff out all things Monterey County can stomach, via picture and prose, curiosity and appetite, hand and mouth.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Chris Rock and Garlic




Chris Rock rules. Exhibit A might be his rant on his family's belief in the powers of cough syrup to heal anything. Put a little Tussin on it.

In the kitchen, I have a similar solves-all appreciation for garlic. Veggies need an accent? Garlic. Pasta need some self-respect? Garlic? Your constitution need a boost? Garlic. Need your place to smell nice? Garlic.

Now there's word that there are still more heady garlic applications out there: "Crawfish Gravy Over Grits," "Cranberry Bread Pudding" and..."Watermelon Crabmeat" are three finalists in the Great Garlic Cook-Off, happening as part of 32nd annual Gilroy Garlic Festival July 23-25.

Lay that on a plate with live music rocking on several stages afternoon and night, acres of vendors, mist tents and cold beer to treat the inland heat, plus the ultimate fixer: garlic.

"Come to know garlic escargot," I wrote last year after attending, "to jam with the garlic jelly, to feel for the garlic fried green tomatoes, to play with the garlic poppers, sizzle with the garlic chicken pizza, grope the garlic chocolate, celebrate the garlic mushrooms, dive into the garlic cookbooks, rock with the garlic Battle of the Bands, stir with the garlic cook-off.

"Behold the delicious beauty of the bulb. "