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At Home with Rebecka

A culinary journey of comfort and style!

You are here: Home / At Home with Rebecka / Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015 – The Great Garlic Cook-Off

July 29, 2015

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015 – The Great Garlic Cook-Off

The Great Garlic Cook-Off

The Great Garlic Cook-Off Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

The Gilroy Garlic Festival just celebrated its 37 year with the third annual Great Garlic Cook-Off.  I had the pleasure of attending the event where I met up with several of my foodie friends for the very first time. It was the most competitive garlic cook off  the event has ever seen.

Eight home cooks vied for the coveted title, Garlic Queen/King, cooking some very impressive dishes for the five celebrity judges; Jason Gronlund, Executive Chef, Smokey Bones BBQ, Jason Lavinsky, Executive Chef, Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf, Adam Sanchez – The Milias Restaurant, Bryan Martinez, Executive Chef, Raley’s, and Carl Stewart, Executive Chef, Raley’s. Master of Ceremonies: Dan Green, Kate Callaghan & Wendy Brodie, HAAC, Executive Chef.

Contestants, Jodi Taffel, Lauren Katz, Tresa Hargrove, Merry Graham, Sherri Williams, Gloria Bradley, Loanne Chiu and Margee Berry, wowed the audience and judges with their garlic infused recipes. The outdoor stage was set with two jumbo-trons giving spectators a birds-eye view of all the cooking action. The air was filled with mouthwatering aromas of charred meats and my favorite kitchen staple, garlic.  Once the smoke settled, the judges crowned Jodi Taffel, first place for her stunning breakfast dish, Shashuka with Deep Fried Garlic. Second place went to Lauren Katz with her Glazed Garlic-Buttermilk Fried chicken and Savory Waffled grits. Third Place went to Tresa Hargrove for her, Chipotle Cilantro Chimichurri Steak on Enchiladas with Roasted Salsa Verde.

I became friends with Tresa, Sherri and Merry, five years ago over our shared interest in food competitions, and Facebook groups. What a pleasure for me to finally meet them all in person as well as, the other competitors. Making new friends and sharing this special day with my fellow foodies was a true blessing.

The day was made more enjoyable hanging out with my dear friend Nancy Judd, winner of the 2013 World Food Championships, Dessert category, and contestant on Chopped Grandma’s.  She and I cooked together in my home during the Real Women of Philadelphia-Cooks Across America-Colorado Cooks video promotion. To see more from that event, watch our Youtube video HERE and HERE.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t chosen to compete with my Benedict Florentine with Roasted Garlic Hollandaise and Garlic Basil Oil this year, but I hope to be on stage at next years competition, cooking alongside my friends. 

Gilroy Garlic Festival Eggs Benedict

 

 

Jodi Taffel FIRST PLACE WINNER, Altadena, CA
Shackshuka with Deep Fried Garlic
Jodi Taffel Breakfast
Shashuka Deep Fried Garlic by Jodi Taffel

Lauren Katz, SECOND PLACE WINNER, Ashburn, VA
Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Lauren Katz Main Dish
Glazed Garlic-Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Savory Waffled-Grits

Tresa Hargrove, THIRD PLACE WINNER, Lawton, OK
Tresa Hargrove
Chipotle Cilantro Chimichurri Steak on Enchiladas with Roasted Salsa Verde

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Merry Graham, Newhall, CA
Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Merry Graham Appetizer/Entree
Golden-Garlic Hoisin Salmon Cakes with California Slaw and Sesame Garlic Chips

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Sherri Williams, Crestview, FL
Garlic Steaks with Mushroom Cream sauce and Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Sherri Williams Main Dish
Garlic Steaks with Mushroom Cream Sauce and Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Loanne Chiu, Fort Worth, TX
Loanne Chiu Main Dish
Garlicky Chocolate Ice Cream Short Ribs with Coconut Rice

Gloria Bradley, Naperville, IL
Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Gloria Bradley Main Dish
Pistachio-Crusted Chicken, Curry Sauce with Sea Salt Rosemary Garlic Chips

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Margee Berry, White Salmon, WA
Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Margee Berry Dessert
Sweet Summer Corn Ice Cream with Blackberry Caramel Corn Crunch

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

Sherri and Nancy

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

Sherri Williams, Rebecka Evans, Nancy Judd, Jodi Taffel, Merry Graham and Lauren Katz

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

Lady Nann and her man

 

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

THE WINNER! Jodi Taffel

Chipotle Cilantro Chimichurri Steak
Chipotle Cilantro Chimichurri Steak
Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Shakshuka
Shakshuka
Shakshuka
Shakshuka
Roasted Salsa Verde Enchiladas
Roasted Salsa Verde Enchiladas
Glazed Garlic-Fried Chicken
Glazed Garlic-Fried Chicken
Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015
Golden-Garlic Hoisin Salmon Cakes
Golden-Garlic Hoisin Salmon Cakes
Garlicky-Chocolate Ice Cream Short Ribs
Garlicky-Chocolate Ice Cream Short Ribs

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

The top THREE Jodi, Lauren and Tresa

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

Waiting for the big announcement

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

Selfies with Nancy and Rebecka

Winner Circle

Gilroy Garlic Garlic Festival 2015

Sherri Williams and Merry Graham

 

Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015

Rebecka Evans, The Garlic Man, Nancy Judd

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Filed Under: At Home with Rebecka, Breakfast, Cooking Contest, Dessert, Dinner, Entrees, Lunch, Photography Tagged With: Cooking Contests, Food Photography, Gilroy Garlic Festival 2015, Great Garlic Cook Off 2015

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Come On In and Kiss The Cook

Rebecka Evans is an award-winning home cook and food blogger, and an avid food and nature photographer. 
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