Your guide to good eats at the Gilroy Garlic Festival
That sweetly pungent smell wafting up from the south can mean only one thing: the Gilroy Garlic Festival. The 39th annual event will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the city’s Christmas Hill Park. Here’s what’s new:
THE MAIN EVENT >> This year’s festival organizers scored a coup and have lined up celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis. At noon Sunday, the Food Network star will preside over the Garlic Showdown, which features four local professional chefs. After the winner is announced at 2 p.m., De Laurentiis will put on the chef’s whites and prepare a garlic-laced dish and answer audience questions.
Seats at the 1,500-seat Cook-Off Stage are expected to fill up quickly, so if you’re a Giada fan grab one when the festival opens. If you miss getting in, you can catch the action on a festival JumboTron.
THE FRIDAY LINEUP>> In the 2 p.m. Champions for Charity event, four teams of first responders will compete in an elimination cook-off to see who emerges with a win — and $3,000 for the charity of their choice. The emcee will be Shaun O’Neale, winner of Season 7 of “MasterChef.” A bonus: Judging will be “SakaBozzo,” Gene Sakahara and Sam Bozzo, the festival’s semi-retired garlic ambassadors. THE SATURDAY LINEUP >> At 10 a.m., eight amateur chefs from around the country will vie not just for bragging rights but also for $5,000 and that gorgeous crown of garlic bulbs. Two chefs are local: Betty Hess of Cupertino will make will make a hazelnut-crusted garlic cheesecake and Concord resident Priscilla Yee has created garlic and berry cornbread shortcakes. Also Saturday, the Gilroy Garlique BBQ Challenge will offer a chance to buy samples from the region’s best pitmasters.
THE NEW DISH >> Gourmet Alley’s newest creation, deep-fried Gilroy Garlic Shrimp in a butter-winegarlic sauce, will make its debut Friday. Those perennial favorites — pepper steak sandwiches, calamari, pasta con pesto — will be back, naturally.
THE CRAZY, MUST-TRY DISH
>> As always, the most unusual item at the fest is the garlic ice cream. You’ll love it or hate it — but you have to try it. And it’s free, courtesy of Olam Foods. THE HOT CONCERT >> More than 50 performances by soul, rock, pop, country and blues bands are scheduled, but the big draw should be country singer Carly Pearce, whose “Every Little Thing” hit is on Billboard’s Top 20 country chart right now. She’ll take the amphitheater stage at 1 p.m. Sunday.
THE GARLIC TRAIN >> If you want to avoid traffic, take the Garlic Train on Saturday or Sunday. It’s a charter that will leave Diridon Station in San Jose at 10 a.m. From downtown Gilroy, a bus will ferry you to the festival. For the return trip, hop on the bus at 4 p.m. to catch the train back north. Tickets, $43 adults, $38 seniors (age 60-plus) and $33 youths (ages 10-16), all include festival admission. Buy at www.gilroygarlicfestival.com.
THE TRAFFIC >> If you’re driving, ignore the GPS or Waze instructions because streets near the park will be blocked off. Instead, follow the electronic signs on Highway 101 south and other freeways. Parking lots open at 9 a.m. The cost is $10; the shuttles are free.
THE DEALS >> Admission and proceeds benefit Gilroy charities and schools. You can save $2 off each ticket by buying online in advance: $18 for adults ($20 at the gate), $13 for seniors ($15 at the gate) and $8 for youths ($10 at the gate). You get the same discounts when you buy your tickets at any Raley’s, Nob Hill or Bel Air store.
THE DETAILS >> Hours, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. www.gilroygarlicfestival.com.