Thursday, August 8

Garlic Galore!

This place is incredible... and honestly.. they weren't kidding when they said you could even smell the Garlic for miles around.... amazing.. it's true.. you can!!!

We pulled into Gilroy early evening and headed out to dinner.. ended up at Famous Dave's BBQ.... at Claire's awesome recommendation... we all loved it! It was the end of our B&B adventure.. now back to reality... Super 8 Hotel... better leave the light on....

Sunday morning we drove out to Christmas Hill Park where the Festival is held each year... hopped onto a shuttle bus that took us to the event...



Lizzy and I are choppin' at the bit!



You name it.. they got it....
garlic anything....
(reminded me of the shrimp list at  Bubba Gump's)...
garlic chocolate, garlic popcorn, garlic noodles, garlic pasta, garlic mussels, garlic lumpia, garlic pancit, garlic nachos, garlic calamari, garlic salmon, garlic oysters, garlic braids, garlic bread, garlic pizza, garlic ice cream, garlic veggie wraps, garlic steak tacos, garlic gator bites on a stick, garlic cajun crawdads, garlic edamame, garlic corn on the cob....... just to name a few... and can you guess what I had???



Here we are with Mr Garlic... 
well he's self proclaimed... said he just started coming for the
past 30 years dressed like this.... guess someone finally made him "official"....


Here's Julia Child... I mean Melissa.... getting her garlic products to take home!
a little of this.. a little of that... bon appetite!


Claire and Melissa share garlic calamari.. no thanks.


Martha and I just enjoying the moment....
(ok honest truth we just polished off a 
chocolate pecan carmel turtle chewey thingie)


I found it.. the free garlic ice cream cone booth...
woo hoo....


It even takes on the shape of a garlic clove...
clever....


... and I loved it!...
ok maybe "like" would be more appropriate....
wasn't at all how I thought it would taste...
was good... in fact I had TWO!!!
(probably cuz they were free)


Celebrity Chef Carla Hall (from Next Food Network Star and The Chew)
was hosting the Garlic Showdown.... we got front row seats!!!





It was very fun to watch the cook-off... just like on TV..
they were timed and had certain ingredients to use...
the judges were ready for tasting and the cameras were right there
watching them cook and interviewing as they went... pretty cool.


Half of the Festival was focused on Arts & Craft booths...
there were a gazillion to go through....
best part is that it was mostly under trees and in the shade
and the temp was about 78.... not at all the hot weather we expected....

had to take this one of one of the Wood displays for Jerry...


This was cute... Melissa almost got some of these ceramic pieces..
the cute ones were faces with them plugging their noses..
stinkin' cute (heeheehee)


Guess this was the Olympic flame of garlic...
so couldn't resist a Kodak moment...



Here's the BBQ cook-off...
these guys were doing all the cooking for the food booths in Gourmet Alley..
again the smell and sounds were amazing!!




We had a fantastic time and soooo glad to experience it!

Once we got back to our car, I realized I had forgot to
give the girls their #4 gift....
better late than never!



We headed back to the room for a short nap...
then ventured out for dinner... something non garlic...
ended up at Panera's to have a bowl of chicken noodle soup!

Monday morning we packed it up for the last time...


Final Gift #5 for final Day #5


We headed out for breakfast before 
hitting the road for the 400 mile drive home...
felt it was appropriate to go to Mimi's since that's 
where we first met a couple months ago
to have our planning meeting for the trip.... 
what great memories we made!!!


So long Gilroy....
I have a feeling some of us may be back one day!


And so long Goofballs.. 
until we meet again!
Thanks for the Memories
and happy birthday everyone!

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