Our First Official Garlic Tasting Event

This past weekend, we hosted our very first Garlic Fest at Bray Gardens, and it was everything we hoped it would be — flavorful, fun, and full of friends coming together to celebrate the harvest.

 

A Tasting of Four Varieties

This year we grew four distinct varieties of garlic: Silverskin, Burgundy, Music, and German Hardy. Each variety brought its own personality to the table, and we wanted to highlight those unique flavors in a structured tasting. Guests were given scorecards to rate each garlic on Aroma, Sharpness/Heat, Flavor Complexity, and Aftertaste.

The results?

• Silverskin and Burgundy tied for best Aroma.

• Burgundy stole the show with Aftertaste.

• German Hardy wowed everyone with its Flavor Complexity and Heat

Fresh Focaccia & Lebanese Garlic Sauce

Brianna baked incredible fresh focaccia bread that paired perfectly with minced garlic in olive oil for dipping. We also introduced a new favorite recipe to the group: Lebanese garlic sauce (Toum) — a simple yet bold combination of raw garlic, olive oil, salt, and lemon juice. It quickly became the crowd favorite and is sure to be a staple at future events.

 

Beyond the Raw Cloves

We didn’t stop at olive oil tastings — slices of raw cloves were also sampled, and we paired roasted garlic with fresh-grilled venison and striper fish caught locally. The contrast between raw and roasted flavors gave everyone a deeper appreciation of each variety’s potential in different dishes.

 

Looking Ahead: Garlic Fest Traditions in the Making

The energy from this first Garlic Fest has us already dreaming up next year’s event. We want to keep the tasting tradition alive, but also add some competitive garlic games like:

• Garlic Peeling Races – Who can peel the most cloves in one minute?

• Garlic Braid Contest – Best-looking braid wins bragging rights.

• Garlic Distance Toss – How far can you throw (or roll) a bulb?

• Guess the Variety Blindfolded – Test your garlic expertise with only your taste buds.

We’re also planning to add a potluck-style dish competition, where each guest brings a garlic-inspired dish to be judged by everyone at the table.

 

A New Annual Tradition

Hosting this event was a reminder of why we grow food in the first place — for community, creativity, and connection. Garlic Fest 2025 will be the first of many. We can’t wait to see how this tradition grows with new recipes, new varieties, and new faces around the table.

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