After several months of planning the Toronto Garlic Festival came and went, but it left a lingering smile on the faces of the thousands of visitors who came and tasted Ontario garlic. I was a little apprehensive as I drove down to the festival site in the dawn light. So many things to plan and think of over the last six months. What had I forgotten? What had I not thought of or planned for?
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| Morning greeting with Michael from Chocosol Traders |
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| Stamping hands - no time for a break! |
As the first farmers and food vendors arrived and got set up at their tables I could feel the momentum build. Joe Mehevic, the city councillor came to cook breakfast for the farmers. A CTV cameraman arrived. The last of the farmers came and set up. Then the first few festival visitors trickled in. Within an hour of the 9 am start time the 30,000 square foot pavilion was filling up. Garlic farmers selling garlic were interspersed with chefs cooking with garlic, like a giant checkerboard, and a dream for the garlic lovers who came from across Toronto and the surrounding region. From 9 to 4 pm five thousand visitors came through the pavilion.
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| A garlic chocolate mob scene at Chocosol |
My dream to create a garlic festival in Toronto had come true, and except for a few logistical items, like the need for improved bus transportation, and more volunteers, it was a great success.
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| Deborah and I with friends from Whole Circle Farm, where I interned in 2010. I was proud to have them as a vendor at the garlic festival |
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| Chef de Cuisine Jack Sobocinski from Canada's National Ballet School demonstrated how to prepare pork tenderloin with garlic and herbs |
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| Chef Rodney Bowers sold out of his meatballs |
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| Professor Robert Litke, giving away garlic. Bob (and Paul Pospisil from the Garlic News) got me started in garlic |
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| Garlic farmer and member of the Garlic Growers Ass'n, Al Cowan |
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| A proud former New York City digital media exec turned garlic farmer, farmer's market manager and garlic festival organizer. |
