The Garlic Companion

Starred review from July 12, 2024

Garlic lovers will rejoice at this book from Graves, a fifth-generation garlic farmer in Canada, sharing her expert knowledge about it. In five chapters ("Know and Love," "Cook and Eat," "Make and Celebrate," "Plant and Grow," "Harvest and Store"), readers will find recipes and crafting ideas, all centered on garlic. They'll also learn how to plant the pungent allium and preserve their harvests. The first chapter contains a treasure trove of information about garlic, its history, the different varieties, and its culinary and medicinal uses. Included among the delicious recipes are roasted carrots with black garlic glaze, honey-garlic ribs, garlic scape croutons, fresh garlic scape salsa, and garlic confit flatbread pizza; there are even garlic-centric desserts, like black garlic caramel mini cheesecakes and roasted garlic-honey sorbet. VERDICT Easy-to-understand recipes and directions with color photographs help make this a highly accessible and critical volume for fans of garlic.--Jacqueline Parascandola

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2024
This homage to the famed allium will give garlic enthusiasts a new reason to rev up their olfactories. A garlicky perfume practically pours from the pages, weaving its way through savory corn breads, shortbreads, and cheese spreads while delicately popping in on sugar-dusted treats. Graves, self-proclaimed ""Garlic Goddess,"" reminds readers that garlic's piquancy can be softened by roasting and/or fermentation (resulting in black garlic). She provides dessert options that add creative flair with a darkened blur of contrast on the palate: roasted garlic and honey sorbet, black garlic maple butter to dollop on waffles, black garlic banana bread, and even black garlic cream fondant chocolates. Readers are invited to learn about the myriad garlic varieties, how and when to grow them, how to use the edible scapes (green shoots), or how to twist the bulbs delicately into playful fall harvest head wreaths. Hanging out this closely with garlic might not be great for one's breath, but eyes and taste buds will be inspired and delighted by these original offerings.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.