Garlic Peelers back in stock!

Its been a long time since we have had handy garlic peelers in stock. I stumbled across a box of them in the warehouse the other day and thought our customers might NEED them for the holidays.. By far the EASIEST garlic peeler we have ever used. I use mine weekly (at least). Its a flexible tube that easily to use ( even for kids), dishwasher safe and small enough to store in your gadget drawer. These peelers are helpful for peeling lots of garlic quickly and help avoid getting that garlic smell in your skin. They make a terrific stocking stuffer, addition to  gourmet gift baskets or as a treat to yourself along with your fresh California garlic
order!

Why you should be concerned about Chinese garlic...

The other day and customer contacted me to "grill" me about CA Garlic vs other imported garlic, namely the Chinese Garlic that has flooded the market as of late. The unfortunate thing about Chinese Garlic for those of us IN the garlic business is that it is shipped and distributed to the market so inexpensively that it makes it difficult if not impossible to compete. Chinese grown garlic just tastes bad as well. Due to chemical treatment for various things, it carries with it a foul after taste that is not desireable. We constantly need to double check with OUR suppliers to make sure they are not using Chinese garlic in our products due to its low cost. We want only the BEST, locally grown, California garlic to maintain our high standards.

I guess the point I am getting to is that my conversation with our customer prompted me to do more research on Chinese garlic and WHY it tastes so bad. I must say that the journey was enlightening and a little scary. The best illustration of WHY Chinese is so yucky is summed up in these articles....

Washington Post-  Cause for Concern in Chinese Bulbs?

NaturalNews.com- Conventionally Grown Garlic Contaminated with Chemicals

And the bottom line is that Garlic Festival Foods, does not and will not EVER sell Chinese or chemically treated garlic. All of the garlic we use in our products is grown IN California and all of the fresh garlic we sell is safe to eat AND plant.

"Man Pleasing" Chicken :)

Tried this recipe the other night except I replaced the Dijon Mustard with Garlic Festival Foods Sweet & Spicy mustard. To die!!

Just a reminder that our United in Garlic gift packs are ON SALE for only $12 which is a savings of $4 per pack! They contain our best selling Garli Garni seasoning and its close runner up Garli Ghetti, plus a bulb of fresh Gilroy garlic.. These little packs make GREAT stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, bunco prizes and hostess gifts.. and guess what? Christmas is coming! Now don't run away with your fingers in your ears yelling "la la la", you know Christmas is sneaking up... and if I have started my Chrismas shipping, you can too!

And since it is September, here is a little trivia about how the United gift pack came to be. As you're aware, this week marks the 11th anniversary of 9/11. The United in Garlic gift pack was created that very week as our way of paying tribute to the fallen and the heroes. We figured it was fitting to create a red, white and blue gift to commemorate the day. For a year afterwards we donate a portion of the sales of the United Gift pack to the Red Cross to assist 9/11 rescue workers and  families. We sold LOTS of them that year and continue to do so. Our fondness for the little gift pack that gave back continues and you will hope you will love it too.

SUMMER'S BEST GIFTS; Home grown tomatoes, basil and garlic.

SUMMER'S BEST GIFTS......home grown tomatoes and newly harvested garlic.

From my garden

Team these up with extra virgin olive oil, a little fresh basil and crusty grilled bread and you have a meal or a hardy appetizer. I could eat this every day; as long as the tomatoes hold out.
BRUSCHETTA~The original "garlic bread".

•   Thick sliced peasant or sourdough bread.
•   fresh whole peeled garlic
•   thick sliced tomatoes
•   extra virgin olive oil
•   thin sliced basil     
•   salt and pepper
•  (crumbled feta cheese is optional but we love it)

California "early" garlic

Fire up the grill. Prepare and have ready the other items. Toast bread on both sides. Rub the garlic into the bread, drizzle generously with the olive oil, top with tomato slices, salt and pepper to taste, garnish with the basil (and feta) and indulge in a culinary slice of heaven.  Or, as we often do; over indulge!

DIED AND GONE TO MONTECELLI ~  Now that we have that great crusty bread, toasted or untoasted, here's another simple but fabulous way to use that fresh garlic.

• 1/2 C extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 C balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
• 1 tsp-1 Tbs red chili flakes (depending on how much heat you like)
• 6 cloves of fresh chopped garlic.

Mix all ingredients in a ceramic bowl and let stand for 10 mins.
Serve in a shallow bowl and dip away.  You'll think you've died and........................

We now have fresh, out of the field, garlic!                               www.garlicfestival.com