It was a garlic lovers paradise at Garden of Eve Organic Farm and Market in Riverhead Saturday afternoon as the 12th annual Long Island Garlic Festival drew hundreds of garlic admirers from all over Long Island.
Vendors offered up a myriad of food and drink including garlic jelly, garlic tea and even garlic ice cream.
Many of the dozens of varieties of garlic were grown locally and the soups, dips and snacks created with the pungent bulbs delighted visitors, some who have attended the annual festival year after year.
After tasting the garlic jelly, Peter Gugler of Centereach decided that he liked it.
“It has an interesting flavor. I think it would be nice to have on a thick slice of bread,” he said.
George Mejia, an intern farmer at Garden of Eve, was all smiles as he watched people’s reactions after tasting some of the more exotic garlic products. Mejia, who studied criminal justice at Penn State, is an aspiring farmer who decided that a career as a policeman wasn’t for him. Originally from the Bronx, Mejia finds working the land therapeutic and delights in providing folks with fresh vegetables — including lots of garlic.
In addition to all the garlic, the festival featured live entertainment, cooking competitions and dozens of vendors, as well as fun activities for the kids.
The festival continues on Sunday, September 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
See more photos below.
Top photo: Italian red garlic. All photos by Katharine Schroeder
