Garlic Festival Foods Blog

Garlic Festival Foods = $$$ for YOU

2011-11-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

Do you love garlic? Want to earn some extra cash and make tons of new friends? Would you wear a bulb of garlic on your head?

Garlic Festival Foods is the original purveyor of garlic laced gourmet specialties and we’re looking for a few good wo(men) to share our products with friends, relatives and heck, maybe even a few strangers.

Garlic Festival Foods is currently seeking interested, garlic loving parties to become Independent Consultants who would like to start their own home based business selling something delicious that everyone can use. We are an established (25+ years), fun loving business with a product line recognized nationwide. We are ready and able to help you set up your own small business and provide you with excellent support.

Our award winning line of gourmet garlic laden products virtually sell themselves, they just need a little assistance getting from bottle to tongue (or nose.) And unlike cookware, jewelry and candles our products are products that customers become "hooked" on, are used up, and reordered over and over again. Food products are largely "recession proof" as people still have to eat everyday and, if necessary, cut back on large ticket items instead of staples.

For a small investment, you can earn money by selling delicious food products to friends, family, co-workers and at events such as Farmer's Markets, Fairs, Festivals and other events.

Visit our website at: http://www.garlicfestival.com/distributors.php to learn more about the opportunities with costs available to you.

Garlic Festival Foods

www.garlicfestival.com

1-888-GARLICFEST

from the mailbox:

2011-11-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

We LOVE getting emails from our customers and we love that YOU love our products. It inspires us to keep making more. Here are a few recent comments:

About Garli Garni:
This is the worst crap I have ever tasted! (Just trying to make sure the supply never falls behind the demand!) If I were to run out of my Garli Garni, I would be stuck to only coffee and chocolate until I could get some more. I literally put this on everything but in my coffee or on my chocolate. Wait a minute! That's right! I have never tried it on chocolate! I will get back to you on that... Warning - If you love garlic, you will toss everything else you have once you try this! ~ Dale, Apache Junction, AZ
About Garli Glaze:

Amazing glaze!!! I put the glaze on salmon and bake it! I warm some Glaze up for a few seconds in the microwave and put a few drops of water in it so it spreads easier... Like a runny honey...Brush it on the salmon... Bake it at 450 degrees for about 9-12 min ( 4oz cuts). The flavor is amazing and always gets rave reviews for dinner! ~ Jasmine, Glendale, AZ

About Garlic Jalapeno Mustard:

We bought our 1st quart of Garlic Jalapeno Mustard in July at the Strawberry Festival on Vashon Island. I was a little concerned that we might never be able to use the contents of this large container. How wrong I was!!!! Within 2 weeks, it was ALL gone! My husband put this delicious mustard on EVERYTHING, and so did I (and I don't even like anything that is remotely spicey.) This mustard is awesome and all of our friends are ordering some of their own --after having tasted it at a recent bbq at our home. Might have to give it as Christmas gifts to our adult kids too, since each of them fell in love with it. Hands down, one of the best "finds" we have ever run in to ~ CJ, Bremerton, Washington

guest blogger delay

2011-07-30T22:28:00.001-07:00

we've had a little bit of an incident today so Joleen's guest post will happen tomorrow I hope.. stay tuned!!

Guest Blogger: Garlic Festival Newbie

2011-07-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

Good morning! It's day three of the Gilroy Garlic Festival and everyone is busy setting up. If you're planning to come down today be sure to stop by the booth (#62) and bring your coupon for a FREE Garli Goop Dip Mix (good with any purchase).

This was my first time at the Gilroy Garlic Festival and it's been such a great experience! The smells are absolutely fabulous - the garlic, BBQ, and other yummy foods fill the air. There have been some really great bands this year, too, and we've all had fun singing and dancing along in the booth. Even the weather has been cooperating!

I've been on a mission to try as much food as possible while here!! The first thing I had to have was roasted corn and I put a fair amount of Garlic Ghetti on it - and OMG was that good!! Not only did I get that great garlic taste but the Romano cheese flavor was a happy surprise!

The customer favorite this year seems to be the Spicy Apple Garlic Glaze. I loved it on pita chips but heard it is also great on a block of cream cheese with crackers or over ham. My personal favorite product to taste were the Garlic & Jalapeno Stuffed Olives!! For those who know me, I am not a huge fan of spice but these were to die for!!! In honor of the festival, I am hosting a giveaway drawing over on my blog!

New Displays

2011-06-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

We are seeing more of our new Garlic Festival Racks venture out into the retail world and we are so excited. We recently set one up at Dave People's "Garlic City Mercantile"on Monterey Street in Gilroy. If you are passing through town, stop by and see Dave (he probably won't be wearing his PJ's like shown here.. lol) but he is sure to greet you with a friend smile and plenty of "home town favorite" products.

WHERE TO GET IT!

2011-06-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

In 2011, we have been working hard to get Garli Garni and all of your favorite Garlic Festival products into more markets and venues to make it easier for our consumers to get their favorite goodies without having to pay for shipping.

We are very proud that we have vastly expanded our availability in CA with new markets taking our products daily :) We also have many reps who travel the country to vend at all kinds of shows, from Renaissance Fairs to Home Shows.

We wanted to remind all of our fans that its easy to find out where we will be by visiting our website and clicking on the Find Us At... tab. Under this tab you will not only find the show schedule for the majority of our representatives but also a listing of all of our retail accounts. Both are searchable by state so its super easy to find us.

Garlic Festival Foods missing from the shelves of your favorite specialty food store? Drop Jodi a line with the name and contact info of the store and she will see what she can do to get our products on their shelves. ( It never hurts to bug in the store buyer's ear too!)

Hope these tips help you find your favorite products and if not, remember you can order 24/ 7 on our secure website. Sign up for our mailing list, and be the first to know about sales and specials!

What do Mark Zuckerburg and Garli Garni have in common??

2011-06-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

SPOTTED AT FREEDOM MEAT LOCKERS! GARLI GARNI!! (Mark Zuckerburg's not the only one!)

We are excited to announce that Garli Garni is on the shelves at the legendary Freedom Meat Lockers.
Let's face it, the only thing missing from your barbecue is the flavor bomb that is Garli Garni - its "the cherry on top". The next time you visit the good folks at Freedom, grab some Garli Garni and grab a pulled pork sandwich too - just make sure you share some with us!

Visit at Freedom Meat Lockers at 160 Hi Grade Lane Freedom Ca 95019.

New stores

2011-06-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

So happy to have some new stores carrying Garlic Festival Food products. Our in house rep Jodi has been stocking us up at new and old accounts in our local area and our sales rep Marsha has been burning up the roads trying to get us into other new outlets so its easier for YOU to find your favorite garlicky goodies.

She recently sent us this picture from a new account in Ft Bragg, CA. Welcome and Thank You to Harvest Market. I love the cute display they made of our products. If you are in the Ft Bragg area, be sure to stop in and say "hi" and pick up some Garli Garni or your other favorite products and tell them the GFF people sent ya!!

For those of you NOT in Ft Bragg, you can always check our list of retail accounts on our web page under the "Find Us At..." tab. Scroll down past the show schedule and search by state.

If you don't see a shop in your area, drop us a line and let us know of your favorite independent grocer or specialty shop that might like to carry our products and we will see what we can do!

LAST CALL

2011-05-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

Well, the world didn't end but our Annual Seasoning Stock Up sale is going to! Be sure to stock up before you take off for the long weekend. All seasonings, Garli Goops, and Roasted Garlic Pieces are 20% off AND you get FREE SHIPPING on any order of $50 or more. This is our biggest savings opportunity thus far!
Oh and as a special bonus our mustards are 20% off too!! Don't wait because the sale ends Tuesday!

Another Recipe Contest Winner

2011-05-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

We wanted to take the opportunity to introduce our second Product of the Month Recipe Contest winner today. Jackie Brooks' family is originally from Gilroy, CA but she now resides in the Sacramento area. Jackie in the mother of 4 daughters and 2 sons, and has 7 grandchildren. She loves to cook healthy and create her own recipes and more than anything she love to cook with GARLIC. So, needless to say, Jackie is a big fan of Garlic Festival products. Here is her winning recipe using our CA Stir Fry Sauce.
Stir Fry Veggie wrap ups

Julienned Carrots

Julienned Zucchini

Snow Peas, finely chopped into small pieces

Green Onions

Napa cabbage,shredded

Spinach

Broccoli, finely chopped

Garlic Festival Garlic Stir Fry Sauce

Add shredded Chicken or Pork If you wish!

I sautéed in vegetable broth with Garli Garni until soft. After liquid is absorbed I put about 2 Tablespoons of Stir Fry Sauce into veggie mixture. Wrap in Rice Paper. Eat them as is with Stir Fry Sauce or you can fry them and serve with the dipping sauce.

Top 100

2011-05-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the first one hundred people who responded - your free gift (valued at $10) is on its way to you! These people really wanted their free gifts and responded quickly, supplies ran out within hours! We were amazed to see how excited people were about the sale! If you were not one of the first 100 people to respond and did not receive a free gift this time - we wish you better luck (and speed!) next time ...AND THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME!

Miss out on this promo? Join our mailing list and be the first to know about special offers and giveaways!


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Winner winner, Taco Dinner

2011-05-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

With it being Cinco de Mayo tomorrow, we thought it only fitting to announce the FIRST winner of our Garlic Festival® Product of the Month recipe contest!

Tyler Rodgers, Native Gilroyan and lover of garlic sent us this yummy taco recipe featuring our Chipotle Garlic Lime Garli Goop.

Tyler is a 5th generation Californian and loves the beauty of outdoors. Foodie, Home-brewer, Lover of Beets. You'll find him out and about in the wilderness combining his passion for cooking and dancing.

He enjoys cooking for his Family and girlfriend and developing new recipes that are based on fresh, organic, healthy vegetable ingredients. His favorite Garlic Festival Food products are Jalapeno Garlic Mustard and Spicy Herb Pickled Garlic.

So Congratulations Tyler and Thanks for being the first of what we hope will be MANY Product of the Month winners!

Heart Healthy GOOP Tacos ( Vegetarian and Vegan friendly! - or if you prefer dairy and meat you can always substitute according to your taste). This recipe is simple and takes only 20 minutes to make and its delicious!

• 1 packet Garlic Chipotle Lime Garli Goop

• 1 bag or container of meatless "ground meat" * substitute ground beef, pork, or chicken according to your preference

• 1 small can tomato sauce

• 1 tub Tofutti (non-dairy) sour cream - or real sour cream if you prefer

• 4 oz jar Garlic Festival Spicy Salsa

• 2 cups crunchy shredded lettuce

• your favorite Corn tortillas

Instructions:

• Empty bag/container of meatless "ground meat" into a saute pan over medium heat. Then, in a separate bowl mix one can tomato sauce with 1/2 of the Garlic Chipotle Lime Garli Goop packet (save the other half for later step). Add mixture to saucepan and cook on medium until hot, stir frequently.

Empty one cup sour cream in a small mixing bowl - you can eyeball this amount. Mix the remaining 1/2 packet of Garli Goop with the sour cream. Set aside and use later to top your tacos.

Heat up your corn tortillas as desired (microwave, stove, oven)

When the taco "meat" is done sauteing, assemble your taco...use about 1/4 cup of "meat", one generous spoonful of Garlic Festival Foods Spicy salsa, another generous spoonful of sour cream mixture. Top with shredded lettuce.

• For additional flavor you can add a few sliced up Garlic Jalepeño Stuffed Olives into the taco.

To learn more about our Products of the Month, recipe contests and other news.. subscribe to our email newsletter on the Front Page at www.garlicfestival.com.

Watching Weight

2011-03-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

So a couple of us joined Weight Watchers and it has come up repeatedly how good MOST of our Garlic Festival products are for those folks who are trying to watch their weight but don't want to miss out on some great flavor.

Obviously Garli Garni is a natural choice for those looking to jazz up diet dishes. Its fat free, gluten free and has no MSG and as you know, it is PACKED with flavor.

Well, one of my FAVORITE products is our Grill & Marinade sauce. I find it very versatile to use and it is chock full of flavor too.

Last night I discovered that I had used up more points than I had planned before dinner so I had to come up with something to eat that was low in points but filling. I had a couple of beautiful Portabella mushrooms in my fridge that I had marinated with our Grill & Marinade.

I only had to use a few tablespoons because it is so potent. I just made sure the mushrooms were well coated and let them sit. When we were ready to eat, hubby fired up the grill and put them on as I sauteed an onion in a touch of olive oil (with a dash of Garli Garni) until they were brown and caramelized. When we were ready to eat I put just a swipe of lo fat mayo and some GF mustard on a sandwich thin along with the mushroom, about a Tbsp of blue cheese crumbles and topped with the onions. They were DELICIOUS! and filling and juicy! Hubby LOVED it. And, when all was said and done I figured it came out to only about 7 Weight Watcher points! Thats a pretty good meal when accompanied by some veggies and salad.

So, whether you are on Weight Watchers yourself, trying to lose a few extra pounds or just LOVE your veggies, I recommend you try this recipe. Its easy and tasty!

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER

2011-03-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

OR..

SHELF LIFE IS NOT THE SAME AS HALF LIFE.

One of the most common questions we receive concerns the shelf life of our products; with few people (luckily, very few) thinking that shelf life and half-life* are synonymous. The answer for each category of products is different. Most spice companies (whose names we don’t mention) advise replacing herbs and spices every few months, as they tend to lose potency and freshness. In general, that’s probably a good practice. Herbs and spices, unlike wine, do not improve with age.

However, we have found that GARLI GARNI, stored properly, can easily last up to a year. What is properly?, you ask. Store GARLI GARNI and all other seasonings in a cool, dry, dark place. If you have a small shaker, refill it from your big one.

“Wet” products, such as salsa, mustards, sauces and dressings should be similarly stored until opened and then should always be refrigerated. These should be used within a couple months (open or not) but use your common sense. If it looks or smells like a science experiment, throw it out! Remember, food products began life as living plants and organic substances and therefore are not candidates for life everlasting. Most of our users don’t want us to use so many preservatives that our products outlive them!

To enjoy the freshest, tastiest products, buy only what you can reasonably use in a few months. Never eat products that are off color, smell funny, or are in bulging or open containers. Store all products safely. No product should be stored where it is hot or in direct sunlight.

*half-life: the time required for half the atoms of a radioactive substance to become disintegrated; usually thousands of years.

HAPPY COOKING!!

Happy St Patty's Day!!

2011-03-17T18:50:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is enjoying some delicious corned beef along with a side of your favorite Garlic Festival Mustard. I know we will be! It smells so great wafting in from the kitchen..

In case you haven't been on the site or received our Tiny Little Newsletter in your email box, we just wanted to share that we have introduced a new feature called "Product of the Month." Each month we will feature one of our products along with ideas for uses and new recipes. In addition, the featured product will be discounted in some way allowing you the opportunity to try it out at a savings or to stock up if you are already a fan.

Hope on over to our home page to check out this month's offering.

Garlic May Lower Chances Of Hip Arthritis

2011-03-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

Interesting on Garlic from BetterHealthResearch.com

Happy Fat Tuesday

2011-03-08T12:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Fat Tuesday ya'll
now we aren't down in N'Awlins but we're gonna try n hep ya'll to cook a little Cajun today wit dissin here Garlic Jambalaya..

1 lb Andouille sausage (or italian sausage)
1 1/2 cups diced smoked ham
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 tbsp CA Cajun Seasoning
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped garlic
2 chopped celery
2 cups long grain rice
3 cups chicken broth or 3 cups stock
2 jars Spicy Garlic Festival Salsa ( or mild if you prefer less heat, or one each!)
1/2 cup chopped green onions with top
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1 Brown sausage in heavy 4-6 quart pan or skillet, drain fat.
2 Add peppers, onions, celery and Cajun seasoning. Simmer until just about tender, then add garlic and cook until tender.
3 Add rice and stir until rice is mixed in and coated with sausage and vegetables.
4 Add broth and salsa, bring to boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Let stand five minutes covered.
5 Add fresh chopped onions and parsley and fluff with a fork just before serving.

Tasty for St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

Pour the green beer and a put on a pot of corned beef, St Patrick's Day is just a few days away. We'll be celebrating and hoping for a little luck o' the Irish here in California and we never miss a chance to cook up a pot of corned beef and cabbage.

Garlic Festival Foods is a great way to add a bit of extra flavor to your St. Patrick's Day meal..

Start by liberally adding Garli Garni to your pot when you cook up your corned beef brisket. We also like to add fresh, whole peeled garlic cloves which will not only add flavor but mellow and soften during cooking so they can be easily mashed into your tater! Yum!

When serving, accompany your brisket with a dollop of Garlic Festival mustard in your favorite flavor. Or for a quick twist to your old favorite TRY THIS:

After removing your brisket from the cooking broth, place in a roasting pan and slather with Garlic Festival Mustard and broil until lightly golden (about 5 min). Serve with all the traditional accompaniments and of course that glass of green beer! Erin go Bragh!

but we already knew that...

2011-03-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

From today's New York Times:

"According to a Provençal saying, “Garlic soup is a life saver.” This simple broth, made by simmering crushed garlic cloves in water with sage or other herbs, is recommended as a cure for ailments as varied as hangovers, stomach ailments and colds.

Garlic has been known for its therapeutic benefits since ancient times. Studies have linked it to lower cholesterol, serum triglyceride levels and blood pressure. Sulfur-containing compounds including allicin, which give garlic its pungency, along with high levels of vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese and selenium seem to be responsible for garlic’s beneficial cardiovascular effects. Allicin helps to prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together and is also a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent that may be useful in weight control. - Martha Rose Shulman"

Of course we already knew that. Visit the source for some yummy sounding soup recipes or try one of ours.

Creamy Garlic Soup
• 1 bulb fresh garlic, separated and peeled
• 1 qt. chicken stock
• 1 tbsp Garli Garni
• 1/2 tsp ea. fresh sage and oregano, chopped
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 4 slices sourdough or country bread, toasted
• butter or margarine

Combine garlic, broth, Garli Garni and herbs in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered until garlic is tender. About 45 minutes. Whisk eggs and cheese together. Whisk mixture into soup until smooth. Butter bread and toast, removing crust if desired. Ladle soup into bowls and top each with toast slice.

Got Salsa??

2011-03-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Got a jar of half eaten Garlic Festival Salsa in the the fridge? Me too... well don't let it go to waste, TRY THIS!

Mix salsa with baby salad shrimp or crab meat and serve with chips OR with a quesadilla filled with melted cheese and chopped pickled garlic.

OR

pour it in a hollowed out cabbage on a platter arranged with pickled garlic (or baked garlic heads) and Garlic Festival Stuffed Olives. Instant hors d'ouevre platter..

OR

dump a jar of GF salsa over hot cooked pasta and toss, sprinkle on a bit of grated parmesan and voila!! instant meal!

spring tease

2011-03-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

When you visit our home page, you may have noticed that our banners change with the seasons. Its something we planned our new site around and its fun and challenging to keep the content fresh and changing.

Usually, most of the images you see in these banners are from our immediate area. Snapshots of our surroundings at any given time. We find our area so very beautiful, bountiful and inspiring and we try to draw from those things every day.

Our current banner is a little teaser of spring. I think we're a little closer to it than many of our fans in other states, however just when we start feeling a little cocky we DO get some crazy weather. Just this past weekend it SNOWED in our area! This is extremely rare, only occurring every 10 years or so. So we got put in our place a little bit but we can still drive or walk around and see little clues that spring is near.

*Blossom photo by my gifted photographer friend Joleen.

itsy "Bitsy" bulb

2011-02-28T13:56:00.000-08:00

There is a new little "bulb" in da house. Bitsy Alli joined the family a couple of weeks ago after being rescued from an alley over in the valley. She was a tattered little thing who was scrounging in trash cans where our head honchette Caryl, found her and decided she needed to come home.

A few bowls of kibble and a much needed bath later we had ourselves a new mascot.. watch out Lorenzo!

Bitsy Alli likes to come to work and play with garlic bulbs (yes, really), "help" answer emails and take naps in her basket. She is so good and a lot of fun to have around the office. If only she caught mice!

Sometimes she gets to go home with me and play with her best friend, Sophie, my daughters kitten (rescued from a busy rural road on the way to school) who is the same age and size as Bitsy Alli. We're trying in vain to get some video of their antics because it is just downright funny. Not much success yet, but we hope soon.

In other Garlic news.. its March tomorrow and with that comes one of my favorite holidays.. St. Patrick's Day!! Did you take advantage of our promotion and stock up on Garli Garni? Its GREAT in the pot when cooking your corned beef and the perfect accompaniment is one of our delicious garlic laden mustards.. there is still time to save!
So hop on over to our website and be sure to enter the promo cide to get your freebies!

a gift to yourself..

2010-12-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

Even though Christmas is almost here its not too late to take advantage of our FREE SHIPPING deal. Take this opportunity to stock up on YOUR favorite Garlic Festival items by ordering over $30 of product and entering the code FREESHIP10 upon check out.
We will get your order on a truck before all the elves leave for vacation and you will find your pantry stocked up for the new year.

This offer runs out at midnite on Christmas Day so don't wait.

Happy Holidays!!

Holiday Shopping

2010-12-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

We are excited about this promo because it is what our customers have been asking about for some time. FREE SHIPPING, just in time for holiday shopping and gifting. To make the deal all the sweeter we are also offering 25% off of ALL gift baskets and packs through Christmas so order now.. they make wonderful gifts for even the most hard to gift people on your list. What could be better than a basket filled with delicious, gourmet offerings?? In addition to our garlicky treats we also offer locally grown Dried Apricot, Olive Oil, chocolate covered treats, honey and more.

Our baskets make great corporate gifts too. If you have ay questions or want to place an order, just give us a call. 1-888-GARLICFEST

Happy Holidays!

Shop Small!

2010-11-16T15:17:00.000-08:00

GFF & River Run Open house

2010-11-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

Join River Run Winery & Garlic Festival Foods for a spicy kick off to the Holiday Season. Sample River Run Wines and local specialty food products, enjoy music, purchase wine and food gifts and relax with friends in the charming Aromas countryside!
Saturday and Sunday, Nov 20-21, 1 pm to 5 pm. Hope to see you there!

For more details visit us on Facebook or our website!

Autumn = Potatoes :)

2010-11-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

Chilly Autumn weather has set in, we’ve set the clocks back (at least in our part of the country) and it’s time forcomfort food. What could be more comforting than potatoes? Delicious, versatile and yes…HEALTHY!

A medium potato contains only 110 calories and 620 grams of potassium (more than a banana), 45% of the daily requirement of vitamin C and no fat, sodium or cholesterol.

~Roasted Garli Garni Potatoes~

4-5 lg. scrubbed Russet potatoes with skins

¼ C extra virgin olive oil

2-3 tsp. Garli Garni

10-12 sprigs fresh Rosemary

Slice the clean dry potatoes into large thick fries. Place oil in a lg. oven proof skillet and toss potatoes until coated. Sprinkle in Garli Garni & Rosemary & toss again. Place in 400º oven and roast for 15-20 mins., then toss scraping the bottom and return to the oven for another 15 mins. Or until tender.

Same mustard, new look

2010-11-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

For some strange reason, when we designed our mustard labels years ago we made the "Jalapeño Garlic Mustard" labels blue.. why? Dunno, just one of those weird things. I guess we liked the way it looked. It never hurt sales or kept us from winning any awards but somewhere along the line we thought it was odd that we hadn't chosen green to be the color since jalapeños are green and our Jalapeño Pickled Garlic labels are green..

Anyway, we had to order new labels recently so we decided to finally make the change. So the next time you purchase some of our popular Garlic Festival Garlic Jalapeño Mustard, it will be green. So don't think you have to call us up and ask us if its the same, it is.. Its great and its got a fresh new look.

Have you tried this recipe yet?

Mustard Chicken

Blend 2 Tbs Garlic Festival Mustard of your choice with 1 Tbs olive oil. Coat 4 chicken breasts with mixture and bake, covered for 350º for 20 minutes or until done. Also great on pork chops and lamb! Yum.

Harvest Festival Goers.. FREE ADMISSION!

2010-10-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

If you live near San Jose, Pomona, Sacramento or San Mateo and are planning to attend one of the Harvest Festival Events, contact us for FREE VIP passes (while supply lasts) and tackle some of your Christmas shopping in a fun and festive environment.

Just drop us a line at custserv@garlicfestival.com and leave your name and mailing address and we'll pop some in the mail. Cheers!

PS If you are in the Sonora area, I also have discount coupons to the Sonora Christmas Festival Thanksgiving weekend!

winner winner

2010-10-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

Always such fun to come home with a blue ribbon as I am remembering back to my show days. Gregg & Tiana were the latest award winners in the GFF stable with this "Finest Fair Display" ribbon from the Los Angeles County Fair. Congratulations you two!

In other news, we are in the last week of our big 20% off promo. Visit our web store to save big on Garli Garni, all pickled garlics and our Roasted Dehydrated Garlic Pieces. No special codes, just place the already discounted items in your cart and $AVE!

Try This!!

2010-10-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce a new feature on our website starting today. Each week we will be posting Simple ideas ANYONE can use. Really! ANYONE! All you need are a few simple ingredients. Be sure to look for them on our front page and let us know what you think!! Try it!!

Garlic Apple Jammin'

2010-09-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Have you tried our Garlic Festival Spicy Apple Garlic Jam (Garli Glaze) yet? No?! Well you're missing out. We introduced in a couple years ago at the Gilroy Garlic Festival to much acclaim!!

I love it on pork as a glaze or on the side of lamb, or just dumped on top of cream cheese with crackers, but we have a new recipe for your to try a la Caryl's Kitchen.

Garlicky Soy Salmon Steaks

Mix the Garli Glaze with about an equal amount of soy sauce. Choose about 1 inch thick salmon steaks and baste with glaze. Place under broiler and broil until just done (about 5-7 mins.), basting a couple of times during cooking. Top with remaining glaze & serve. Shown here served with Quinoa Pilaf.. we'll get the recipe up for that soon.

What are you cooking these days??

25 Amazing Food Cures

2010-09-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

Interesting tidbit in today's health news..

Garlic has been shown to reduce anxiety...

"Garlic
Tuck a few extra cloves into your next stir-fry or pasta sauce: Research has found that enzymes in garlic can help increase the release of serotonin, a neurochemical that makes you feel relaxed"

View the entire article here:

25 Amazing Food Cures

what's cookin?

2010-09-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

Well, Indian Summer is here and I am still reeling in the bounty of home grown tomaters, garlic and fresh basil.

Tonight I whipped up some pasta with the "leftovers" from last nights bruschetta feast.

First I cooked up some fresh made fettucine and then I simply tossed it with diced heirloom tomatoes, fresh chopped basil leaves, a liberal sprinkling of Garli Garni, a couple cloves of fresh chopped garlic, a splash of olive oil and about 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar. I mixed it all well with the hot pasta and served it up with a sprinkling of feta cheese crumbles.

Super flavorful!!

2010-08-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

The Garlic Festival is over and the Garlic Harvest is in full swing. It's time to enjoy that summer classic; GREAT GARLIC BREAD! Great Garlic bread starts with great bread. Don't settle for that soft poofy bread with no body. Find a great artisan bread, crusty sourdough or peasant bread. Slice the loaf in half lengthwise. Mix butter, a little extra virgin olive oil, a generous dose of fresh California chopped garlic and Garli Garni to taste. Meanwhile grill the cut side of the bread. Turn over and slather on the garlic butter and continue grilling to toast the other side. Slice and serve. An alternate to this delicious bread is to use Garli Ghetti instead of Garli Garni for cheesy garlic bread.

Garlic Garni & Garli Ghetti available @ garlicfestival.com

the flavors of summer

2010-07-15T20:59:00.001-07:00

One of the best parts of summer for me is the harvest.. garlic, basic, home grown tomaters... YUM! simply thinking about it makes my mouth water.

This evening I went out and picked a hand full of fresh basil from my garden to accompany the heirloom tomatoes procured at our local farmer's market yesterday (mine are still green) and the fresh sourdough bread sitting on my counter.

My favorite way to make bruschetta is to grill or toast slices of french bread and rub over with a fresh garlic clove and then drizzle with good olive oil. Top with slices of fresh tomato, sliced basil leaves and sprinkle of salt & fresh ground pepper and either a slab of mozzarella or feta cheese crumbles. (my personal fav)

This is great as an appetizer or a full meal as I had 5 slices tonight because it was so hot! Pair it with a nice chilled glass of wine or a glass of iced tea.. yum!!

FRESH GARLIC in da house!

2010-07-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

Its that time of the year again.. the Gilroy Garlic Festival is just around the corner, and you know what that means? Its harvest time in the Garlic Capital of the World!

We are getting in the freshest batch of California garlic that you can get so pop on over to our shop and pick up a couple pounds for summer cooking or some fresh garlic braids to adorn your kitchen, recipes or give as gifts.

By the way, we just added the "follow" feature to our blog. If you sign up to follow us between now and July 31 we will add your name to a drawing to win a fresh small garlic braid!

Cookin' on the Lost Coast

2010-06-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Garli Garni should be in every camping kit. Why? Because it's great on EVERYTHING! and makes everything great. It's not one of those seasonings that smothers the taste of what you're cooking. A basic recipe that you can make at home and pack in the cooler is Garli Garni butter:

Recipe: Simply mix a generous amount of Garli Garni with butter or margerine and pack it in a container in your cooler.

With this you can make great Garlic bread and the best corn on the cob you've ever tasted.

For the corn; peel back the husk, remove the corn silk and slather on a thick layer of Garli Garni butter. Put the husk back in place and wrap the corn tightly in foil. Place on the grill or directly in the coals and cook.

For the garlic bread simply spread the seasoned butter liberally on the split french bread or baguette and toast on the camp grill.

Take along your shaker of Garli Garni and sprinkle on hamburgers, steaks, chicken, or skewered prawns. Then grill on your campfire for an outdoor feast.

Above, we've sauteéd mushrooms and onions in the Garli Garni butter to top our grilled steaks.

On the Road with Lee

2010-06-11T12:30:00.001-07:00

For the first time in many years, Garlic Festival Foods is happy to be back in the Bing Crosby Building at the Del Mar fair. Lee is in booth # 2106 peddling all of your favorite Garlic Festival® goodies. Check out this link for fair discounts and be sure to stop by and say "Hi!"

Lost Coast of California

2010-06-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

Want to get away from it all? Really get away? Thick tangles of wild Sweet Peas, sun dappled meadows of Lupine, fat gray squirrels and tiny quaint settlements tucked into little valleys? Then the Lost Coast may be the place for you. Where is the Lost Coast, you ask? It begins where Hwy. 1 (North) ends. The best and most scenic route is to drive to the quaint Victorian town of Ferndale and head for the coast over the hills and through the picturesque valleys. We took Mattole Rd. on a beautiful drive to the tiny town of Petrolia. From Petrolia you can take a side trip to the ocean (and beach camping) by following Lighthouse Rd.

To continue your trip, backtrack and resume your trek through the Mattole Valley. If you enjoy camping, look for the Arthur W. Way County Memorial Park. This is one of the prettiest campgrounds I've come across; lovely, well kept sites divided by grassy berms situated along the winding river. If camping isn't your thing, look for the funky little Mattole River Country Cabins which the owners have been in the process of renovating. They're cute and reasonable.

Late spring is a great time for this trip. After our plentiful rains this year the wild flowers were particularly spectacular. Wildlife is abundant and camping areas plentiful if not always easily accessible. That, of course, is what makes it the "Lost" Coast. Our final destination was the Sinkyone Wilderness and Bear Harbor.

Coming next: Camp Cooking on the Coast and Bear Harbor.

NEW WEB SITE

2010-06-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Well, if you are reading this, no doubt you have come here via our Brand Spankin' New website. It has been many months in the making, collaborating between a handful of people and our awesome web chick/programmer Joanne. Have to admit we lagged a bit over the holidays but have been busting our fingers the last couple of weeks, typing, shooting product photos and spiffing up the site.

In case you haven't seen, we now have a Facebook page!! and Twitter. If you do not belong to our Facebook page we invite you to pop over there and join because this will entitle you to exclusive discounts and recipes that will only be posted there. You can always find us by clicking on the appropriate icon in the upper right corner from our home page.

In the works are more new recipes, a photo gallery and also some fun videos about garlic and cooking with garlic. Please feel free to send us letters, comments, recipes and more as we work to make this site a fun destination where garlic lovers unite!

Mustard Madness

2010-02-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our new blog! Here we plan to share with you the latest happenings from the Garlic Capital of the World as well as delicious recipes, cooking and gardening tips and show updates.

Today we wanted to share a few quick tips for using our mustards. Of course you can slather them on bratwurst, sausages and that turkey sandwich but they can be used for other delicious recipes as well. Try these:

• Whisk together a heaping teaspoon of Garlic Festival Mustard with a little olive oil, honey and tarragon. Brush on salmon fillet and bake at 375º for 25 to 30 minutes. Great on chicken or pock too!

• Stir 1 tablespoon GF mustard, 2 tablespoons mayo and a drizzle of olive oil into canned tuna. Sprinkle with parsley and black pepper. Toss with pasta.

• Mix 2 tablespoons GF Mustard, 1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon curry powder into a cup of sour cream and use as a dip for fresh veggies. Simple and tasty.