A Fragrant New Home in the Garden District
Would you try garlic ice cream or a raw garlic shot? That was the happy question on our minds as we wandered into Allan Gardens on Sunday, September 27, for the 15th annual Toronto Garlic Festival. This year the festival moved to a new home at the historic park at 160 Gerrard Street East, and it settled in beautifully among the old trees and paved pathways, just steps from the glass-domed conservatory so many of us love on a grey winter day.
The not-for-profit celebration was presented in partnership with Friends of Allan Gardens, the community organization that helps steward the park with the City of Toronto. Admission was free, the festival ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the whole park carried that warm, toasty scent you’d expect when a neighbourhood gets serious about Ontario’s garlic harvest.
Samosas, Garlic Beer and a Scoop of the Unexpected
Our first stop was the savoury side of things. Garlic samosas were on the menu, crisp and golden, the kind of snack that’s easy to enjoy as you stroll from stall to stall, napkin in hand and nose following the next good smell.
From there, we made our way to Henderson Brewing, the Toronto brewery based on Sterling Road, for a garlic beer. It’s the kind of pour that makes you pause before the first sip, and that little moment of curiosity is half the fun of a day like this.
Then came the treat we still can’t stop talking about: Black Garlic Miso Caramel Ice Cream from Good Behaviour Ice Cream. According to Good Behaviour’s menu, it’s made with Ontario black garlic, miso and Madagascar vanilla, finished with Maldon salt. It sounds like a dare, but it turned out to be surprisingly amazing, sweet and salty with a mellow, caramel-like depth.
Brave the Shot, Stock Up for Winter
For the truly bold, the festival’s Garlic Shot Station offered a free shot of raw garlic, either spooned onto your plate to power up a dish or taken straight. We’ll let you decide which camp you’re in.
Beyond the food, visitors could stock up on their winter supply of Ontario-grown garlic and pick up garlic braids and garlic-infused oils. There were Culture Talks, live music and activities for all ages, plus the Garlic Breath Contest, the Garlic Bulb Cracking Contest and the Vampire Costume Contest, where capes and plastic fangs were very much encouraged.
Keep Your Eyes on Our Reels
It was a cozy, generous kind of Sunday, the sort of neighbourhood gathering that reminds you how much flavour this city packs into a single park. If you missed it this year, keep an eye on the Toronto Garlic Festival website for news about the next edition.
Watch the reel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytorontonews/reel/Dd2Qwf_utsr/