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The Wedge Natural Foods Co-op of Minneapolis has awarded MN Garlic Festival a major sponsorship, the coveted Wedgie Award.* In appreciation of this honor, the Festival has offered The Wedge the naming rights to the performance stage. At first, Wedge management considered naming the stage "Bob," but fortunately reconsidered. Instead, our garlic guzzling patrons will enjoy chef's cooking demos and fine entertainment at "The Wedge Co-op Local Foods/Local Arts Stage." We're very excited to begin this collaboration with The Wedge, and greatly appreciate their support. Wine Tasting at the Festival It's been a long and arduous journey getting to the point where we can proudly announce that there will be a Local Wine Tasting, 2:00 - 6:00 pm, for an additional charge of only $5.00 per person at the door. The entirely fictitious tale** of how this came to be begins when Greg Reynolds, co-progenitor of the Festival, while taking a nap after munching his favorite garlic bagel, received a channeled message from an ancient Garlician that garlic and wine go well together. Thinking that the message meant that there should be wine made from garlic, Reynolds first approached his neighbor, Mike Dickerman of Woodland Hill Winery. "I come with a momentous message, Mike," said Reynolds, "a dead Garlician told me you need to make garlic wine." As security escorted him to the front gate, Reynolds could still hear Dickerman's uncontrollable laughter ringing in the fermentation room. A succession of sad scenes followed as Reynolds approached Millner Heritage Vineyard and Winery, where Don, Mary, Jon and Anna Millner patiently listened to his story and recommended that he spend less time in the sun; then Ron and Kimberly Wothe of Glacial Ridge Winery hardly got through "Sure Greg, we'll get on that right after we perfect the rutabaga white," before breaking out into howls of derisive laughter. Finally, Karin and Eric Koenen had already been warned by the others and closed Hinterland Vineyards early, leaving a note on the front door that read, "Greg, go home and sleep it off". So he did. And he dreamed once again that the same ancient Garlician came to him in a glowing light that sparkled exactly the way that garlic wine wouldn't. Looking into Greg's eyes with a expression that spoke volumes of compassion for his failed mission, the Garlician, who was coincidentally named Bob, dopeslapped Greg upside the head, and said, "What are you thinking?! I didn't say to make garlic wine! I said to have a Tasting of local wines at the Garlic Festival!" Then Greg Reynolds went forth and made it so.
Reports from the region suggest that the garlic harvest is running late this summer. Not to worry, there will be plenty of this year's fresh allium sativum there—we actually have twice as many garlic growers!—but some farmers may ask you to "finish" the curing at home. This is really quite simple: just be sure to store it like you normally would, with air flow, not in direct light, and fairly dry location (no refrigerator or closed cupboards!), and even if there's a bit of that fine scent for a couple of days, this too shall pass, and it will store well for months to come. Here's a list of this year's garlic growers: Dakota Garlic
This just in from our illustrious Garlic Chair: The Kingdom of Garlic will celebrate the 4th Annual Minnesota Garlic Festival on Saturday, August 15 at precisely 12:37 with a Peculiar, Pragmatic Promenade around the McLeod County Fair Grounds. Everyone is welcome to participate, and all promenaders should assemble by the windmill at the main fair grounds entrance at 12:15. The theme is, of course, garlic, with a twist on anything that sustainable people promote. Vendors, here is your chance to promote your product. Prizes will be awarded for: Most Peculiar Bagpipers of the Minneapolis Police Pipe Band will lead the parade followed by the Garlic Diva and Princess, Mr. Fun, Xibaba's Brazillian samba, and YOU! Pragmatically speaking, this will be one preculiar promenade. Come prepared. Remember! Show up in costume and get $1 off the ticket price.
When Lori Valenziano, a chef at Lucia's, heard that there were already nine cooks designing the menu and working at The Great Scape Cafe at the festival, she said,**** "Hey! I was there last year! I want to join the food fight again!" You can download a flyer of the fine festival food on the website at the "Guest Chefs" link. Then inflict it on all your friends by printing it or emailing it to them. *OK, we at the festival made up the name of this award, but the Wedge thought it was funny, too, and went along with us on it. ** The people in this story are real ***, but you can't seriously believe they would actually say or do any of these things, can you? *** Except for the Garlicians. Or are they??? **** We made up this quote, too.
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