Eight to Compete for Garlic Crown in 2016 Great Garlic Cook-Off

Eight to Compete for Garlic Crown in 2016 Great Garlic Cook-Off
05 Jul 2016 by Katherine Filice

 It's official: Gilroy Great Garlic Cook-off Press Release

Eight amateur chefs from across the United States have been selected to compete in the 2016 Great Garlic Cook-Off, one of the country’s most popular amateur cooking contests. The eight finalists were selected from a field of more than 200 entries and will prepare their own original recipes at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California on Saturday, July 30, 2016.

Only two contestants this year hail from the Golden State. Rebecka Evans will make the trip from nearby Danville to prepare her “Garlic Goat Cheese Bacon Soufflé with Creamy Garlic Mustard Sauce,” while Mary Edwards from Long Beach will represent southern California with her entry of “Lamb Tenderloin with Sweet Pea Risotto and Garlic Demi-Glace.”

Seafood will be featured in two of the contest dishes. Betty Hass from Sanibel, Florida will prepare “Wasabi-Glazed Garlic Stuffed Shrimp with Sweet Garlic Rice Crisps,” while Kelly Velasco from American Fork, Utah will cook up “Garlic Risotto Stuffed Mussels with Garlic Herb Toast.”

Beef-lovers will not be disappointed. Andre Alban from Coconut Creek, Florida plans to prepare “Black Butter Skirt Steaks with Herb Garlic Mushrooms and Potatoes.” Greg Fontenot hails from The Woodlands, Texas, and will be representing the Lone Star State with his “Beef Short Ribs in Garlic Balsamic Cherry Sauce.”

Veronica Callaghan from Gastonbury, Connecticut will serve up “Roasted Garlic Pizza with Spicy Rosemary Caramelized Onions, Figs & Bacon.” And Gloria Bradley from Naperville, Illinois will present the lone vegetarian entry: “Veggie Eggplant Mushroom Stacks, Green Chili Garlic Adobo & Peppadew Vinaigrette.”

Each recipe must contain at least six cloves of garlic. Contestants will prepare their dishes in front of Festival guests on the Garlic Cook-Off Stage and present them to a panel of five judges, including professional chefs, food experts, and local celebrities. The dishes will be judged on flavor, texture, creativity, appearance, and use of garlic. The winner receives $5,000 and a garlic crown. A prize of $2,500 will be awarded for second place, $1,000 for third place, and $100 for each of the remaining five finalists.

The 2016 Gilroy Garlic Festival, presented by Raley’s, Bel Air and Nob Hill Foods, will run from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 29-31, at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy, California. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors 60+ and children ages 6-12. Children under age 6 are admitted free. Parking is $10 per vehicle and includes shuttle buses to and from the Festival entrance. Gates close at 6:00 pm.

Tickets are available online at gilroygarlicfestival.com and at participating Raley’s, Bel Air, and Nob Hill Foods stores.