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Home > Blogs > The Leadbelly Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 24
Monday, September 24, 2007
Great garlic!
Hey! Sister Laura sends in the following great entry!!
She wrote this for us Leadbellies:
There is garlic in the air, which is as it should be, but where you want this pungent bulb is in your mouth, down your throat, into your belly and out your pores. This weekend, there’s a quick and easy way to make this happen - go to the Garlic Festival at Cox Arboretum in Miami Twp. and take it in in various and sundry concoctions, all prepared to keep vampires and random strangers.
The Leadbellies were invited to a preview tasting of the concoctions provided by eight of the festival’s 14 vendors (but one’s popcorn and one’s ice cream), and we were more than happy to oblige. There were awards to be given and chefs to be schmoozed, so needless to say, we were there. Here’s a necessarily short breakdown of what we ate and how we felt about it — see for yourself this weekend if you agree.
— Bahn Mai Thai Cafe (Centerville): The breadstick-like rangoon was designed specifically for ease of festival eating, and instead of the ever-popular crab, it’s full of roasted garlic, chives and thyme along with the cream cheese. These “Rangoon Sticks,” dipped in classic Asian sweet-and-sour sauce, sold out at Taste of Miami Valley — ’nuff said, and were judged “Most Creative” in this most creative crowd, so that’s saying something. The Tamarind Beef’s fusion of Thai/Mexican flavors was a hot, hot hit, earning “Most Original Recipe” Leadbelly honors.
— Diva’s Gourmet (Dayton): Despite the floating chunks of brie and baguette and its ultra-creamy base, chef Christine Mabe assured us her Poached Garlic Soup had health benefits to spare — as if we cared. It was heavenly, winning the “We Could Eat Gobs and Gobs” award, and got half of the Healthy Choice honors (sharing with El Meson’s paella).
— Cena (Miami Twp).: This Brazilian steakhouse served up a lovely plate of Chimmy Churry Chicken Wings — beautiful they were, coated with Parmesan cheese and thick as a drumstick but meatier and tastier. This unusual combo inspired the Best of Show award and inspired the Leadbellies to look beyond buffalo when sniffing out wings.
—El Meson (West Carrollton): The restaurant can do no wrong did it right with their classic paella, full of shrimp and chorizo and stuff we were too busy eating to name, happily chomping on the big cloves of garlic sprinkled throughout. Best Presentation was theirs, possibly because of the perfect, edible flower; we also decided on a tie (with Diva’s Gourmet) for Healthy Choice.
— Giovanni’s (Fairborn): Sometimes simple is best, and this Pasta Agla Olio (garlic and oil) was simply spectacular, and we gave it the Best Garlic Smell, which was no small feat in this crowd.
— Stengl Catering (Lebanon): Burgers are a blast, so Stengl Catering got the Most Fun Award with its Aussie Burger — all fresh ground beef, fresh ground pork, other great spices and garlic (naturally). In the burger’s native Australia, you’re likely to get a fried egg, beetroot and perhaps a bit of pineapple on top, but those were left down under, where the burgers are eaten as a hangover cure.
— Chimney’s Inn (Miamisburg): Oh my — we were asked to help choose what would be featured at the Garlic Festival, between Garlic Roasted Pork Shoulder with sweet garlic barbecue sauce (on a bun) and Carmelized Garlic Fried Catfish with Garlic Remoulade (on a plate). Amazing food, and because buns work better when festivizing, we suggested the Best Flavor winning sandwich for the festival; we’ll order the catfish (which tied for Best Flavor — go figure!) when we’re at the restaurant.
— St. Ignatius Maronite Catholic Church (Miami Twp.): This is kind of a wild-card entry, so horray for wild-card entries. Joan Ste. Marie served up her Lentil Soup, whose garlic was tempered by a light lemon flavor and topped perfectly with a sprinkling of dried mint. We gave it the Best Garlic Recipe award, and everybody went home happy.
Happy Garlic To You!
Here’s the info you need to visit:
miami valley south health center garlic festival Cox Arboretum 6733 Springboro Pike, Miami Twp. (937) 434-9005 www.www.metroparks.org/_coxArboretum/coxArboretum.aspx Friday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
