Gilroy’s Garlic Festival was alive and kicking well before Facebook co-creator Mark Zuckerberg could tie his shoes, but folks spearheading South County’s hallowed stinkin’ rose extraveganza know how to flex their social networking muscles.
Inducted for the first time last year, the festival’s 2nd Annual “So you think you can cook with garlic?” Facebook challenge – an open contest culminating before a packed audience in the Cook-Off Theater July 27 at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy – is kicking off once again.
The contest is open to amateur chefs 18 and over who post a video of themselves preparing their recipe on the Festival Facebook page from now until May 25. The top two contestants with the most “likes” on Facebook will be invited to prepare their respective recipes in person on the Cook-Off Stage, where they will have have 60 minutes to prepare, plate and serve their dishes to a panel of judges.
First prize is $700; the runner-up receives $300.
Ms. Laurie Figone of Petaluma, Ca. won last year’s inaugural competition with her “Triple G Almost Famous Focaccia Bread.”
Contest rules are available on the Festival Facebook page.
“The Festival entertains over 100,000 guests each year,” Recipe Committee co-Chairperson Deanna Franklin observed. “And I’ll bet half of them leave proclaiming to their friends that they’ve got a winning garlic recipe. We were delighted with the response last year and we’re anxious to entertain more entries this year.”
The 2012 Gilroy Garlic Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 27-29 at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy. Admission costs $17 for adults, $8 for seniors ages 60 and older and $8 for children ages 6-12. Children younger than 6 will be admitted for free. Parking is also free.
