Heirloom garlic: it really IS delicious

by Sarah Gilbert, Posted Oct 2nd 2005 @ 7:09PM

sacred organics garlic guys Three weeks ago, I found a new vendor at my favorite farmer's market: Sacred Organics garlic. I snapped some photos, and was delighted at the passionately hayseed-y look of the vendors, obviously either the farmers themselves or actors skilled at the craft of impersonating the quintessential garlic farmer. I brought my $8/pound Oregon Blue and Chesnok varieties home, and found them delicious. I was about to write up my post, surely breaking the news on the newest trend in heirloom gardening. And then yesterday, I picked up a copy of October's Martha Stewart Living. And there they were, my garlic farmers, their glory glossily captured straight from their actual farm. Damn. Scooped by Martha - who was probably still in prison when these photos were taken!

oregon blue garlic at eastbank farmers market in portland
Well, she may have scooped me, but she didn't try the Oregon Blue (so far as I could tell). It was delicious, tangy, utterly delightful. Better still was the Chesnok red, which I tried it in several recipes. Most notably I used it in my personal fave, the simple goat cheese garlic dip from Trattoria. It was a huge departure from the garlic I usually buy in the grocery store; not at all sharp, and without that dehydration-causing bite, even when eaten entirely raw. And those photos - well, I'm a little biased, but I think mine are better than Martha's.

Filed Under: Farming, Magazines, Raves & Reviews
Tags: west coast

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-02-2005 @8:01PM Myron said... I'm jealous. The only garlic I have available is at the supermarket and now its all old, shrivled and sprouting. Should new stuff be hitting the market soon?
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10-02-2005 @10:12PM sarah gilbert said... good question Myron - I think the answer is "no." Martha's article focused around how you can grow your own garlic - and even my cute local garlic farmers were only at the market a few times this summer. you won't be finding anything like this at your megamart, but maybe at the nearest farmer's market! Fall is garlic harvest season, so that's your best bet.
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