If you are conscious about your breath, don't worry. The rule on garlic is that the people you are with should eat it too-thus, nobody smells it. But who cares when you are in the crowds at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival? Over two tons of the fresh, locally grown garlic is cooked in flamed, grilled, sauteed and fried foods at an event that spans three days and attracts over 100,000 people. Gilroy is a city in Santa Clara County located off I-101 south of San Jose and the Bay Area! With a population of approx. 52,000 people, the town swells to more than double its size when you add all those visitors who come from around the globe to eat garlic.

Just driving through the region, the aroma of garlic in the fields seeps its way into your car so you can't escape its aroma. Garlic is believed to offer health benefits, and many take garlic pills daily as part of their regimen. The best way to enjoy garlic, however, is in a huge festival where you can sample it in recipes created from the cleverest of chefs. Garlic ice cream, garlic cookies and garlic dishes provide a variety of flavors and surprises from appetizers to desserts. It's amazing what they can do with garlic! - gilroygarlicfestival.com