In honor of the pile of garlic bulbs which are curing on the counter behind me, it felt appropriate to reach into the archives and re-print an article I wrote for the Ocean View Farms newsletter several years ago. I hope you enjoy it:
A Stinky Affair
It was a hot and sunny day in Gilroy. Despite my olive skin and heavy doses of SPF 25, I still managed to develop a driver’s tan within the hour it took to drive from the airport in San Jose down to Gilroy. After a parking-lot-style shut down of the freeway (the kind we pride ourselves on here in L.A.), and a haphazard, yet successful, trip through the “back road” I finally arrived at the Great Gilroy Garlic Festival. I had two simple goals in mind: 1) find some good garlic to bring home for planting, and 2) learn how to make a garlic braid.
I made my way toward the entrance, and quickly purchased a program to find the garlic braiding demonstration schedule. To my surprise, only one demonstration was listed: 1:00. I glanced down at my watch and gasped. It was 12:45. Haven’t much time! Despite the nondescript map that was missing the essential “You are Here” indicator, I found myself at the garlic braid ticket booth after plowing through Gourmet Alley and its inhabitants.
“What? You’re out of tickets?” I was crestfallen. I tried to pull the “press card”; saying that I was a roving reporter from Ocean View Farms, with no luck. The nice man behind the counter told me I could sit outside the circle and watch, though. So I rushed to the bails of hay that formed a circle where the demonstration would take place. People sat around the circle kicking the layers of dried garlic stems on the ground.
Bonnie, a robust woman obviously jaded from years of garlic braid demonstrations, explained the rules as we sat anxiously. Then, to my surprise, she announced that they would give out any extra supplies to people who didn’t have tickets. I still had a chance! I jumped over the bails of hay and waited for the ticketed folk to thin out. By the time I got to the wagon of garlic, they had one box left. I bribed the man guarding it (who was saving it for later) into giving me supplies. I was ecstatic.
So here are instructions for braiding garlic: (It’s like braiding hair)
Start with 3 bulbs (largest in the center) and secure them at the neck with a long baggy tie. The stems should be facing you.
Then place another large garlic bulb in the center with the stem in the center.
Braid the RIGHT stem over the two stems in the CENTER. Bring the two stems to the right side.
Place a small garlic bulb on the RIGHT side with the stem in the CENTER and braid the LEFT stem over the two stems in the CENTER, so now you have two sets of stems on either side and one stem in the middle.
Place a small garlic bulb on the LEFT side (stem in center) and braid the two stems on the RIGHT over the two stems in the CENTER.
Put the last garlic bulb in the CENTER and braid the LEFT set of stems over the 3 stems in the CENTER.
Continue braiding and tie off with a length of twine.
It’s actually easier than it sounds. We only used 7 bulbs of garlic, but you can use as many as you like.
After some strong Pesto Pasta and a sampling of garlic ice cream, I was certain that my flight home was going to be lonely and fragrant. So I picked up some breath mints at the airport before boarding the plane.
