Community Corner

What You Must See at the Garlic Festival

Various food events, including competitions, will be held on all three days.

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 Gilroy Garlic Festival kicks off at 10 a.m., Saturday, but spatulas and pans will be a flingin' and a flyin' on Friday and Sunday, too.

It's all about food at this festival dedicated to the garlic.

Find out what's happening in Gilroywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Friday: The Master Chef Challenge takes place at 11 a.m., and at 1:15 p.m., the winners are announced. At 2 p.m., an event simply called “So You Think You Can Cook with Garlic” kicks off,  and at 3:45 p.m., local celebrity chefs, Saka Bozzo and Ada Wong (Biggest Loser), will give the audience a demonstration.

On Saturday: This year, the lady chefs are out to prove themselves. They are the majority in this final round.

Find out what's happening in Gilroywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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 Spaetzle.
  • 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, 30 miles south of San Jose off Highway 101, from Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 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.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here