What You Can Cook with Garlic: Lobster, Tilapia, Even Lime-Coconut Tarts

Patch is an official sponsor of the Gilroy Garlic festival. Stop by our booth and say hello. We'd love to meet you, and we'll have tons of Patch goodies to give away.

The big cook-off at the kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30. Spatulas and pans will be a-flinging and a-flying.

This year, the lady chefs are out to prove themselves in the amateur competition called “So You Think You Can Cook with Garlic.” They are the majority in this final round.

The cook-off finalists include:

• Judy Reynolds from Bloomington, IN, cooking Garlic and Lobster, Curry Corn Chowder with Sweet Potato Bites and Thai Garlic and Hot Chili Swirl.
• Derek Thurman from Charlotte, NC, cooking Spicy Tuna Towers with Garlic three Ways.
• Emily Falke from Santa Barbara cooking Garlic Infused Tilapia, Beet, Parsnip and Sweet Potato Stacks with Watercress Aioli.
• Mary Shivers from Ada, OK, cooking Christopher Ranch Pesto Chicken with Garlic-Laced Stone Fruit Sauce.
• Wendy Hector from Sacramento cooking Garlic-Covered Pork and Pork-Covered Garlic with Roman Gnocchi and Paprika Cream Sauce.
• Michaela Rosenthal from Woodland Hills cooking Tomato Glazed Veal Chops with Roasted Garlic and Sage Spatezle.
• Jamie Brown-Miller from Napa cooking Stacked Steak Napoleon on Garlic Paper with Asparagus, Radicchio, Shiitakes and Stilton.
• Susan Mason from Milton, WA, cooking Lime in De Coconut Garlic Tarts.

On Sunday, the "Garlic Showdown" brings the weekend's activities to a climax at noon, with winners announced two hours later at 2 p.m.

The 33rd annual Gilroy Garlic Festival is taking place at Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy, about 60 miles south of Alameda off Interstate 880 and Highway 101, through July 31, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Gates close at 6 p.m.)

Tickets cost $17 for adult general admission, $8 for children ages 6-12, $8 for seniors 60+ and free for children 6 and younger. Discounted tickets can be purchased online or at all Raley’s, Bel Air and Nob Hill Foods locations.