Garlic.
That word draws lovers and haters for miles around.
As for me, I like it if it is used appropriately. I always get suspicious when an eatery reeks of the bulb. I can’t help but wonder if the food is not as fresh as it should be, or what other horrors lay under the extreme odor and flavor.
Don’t get me wrong. I like garlic. Garlic, when used to enhance a dish, is amazing! Mediterranean cuisine depends on it to elevate other flavors. But it should not be the only taste I’m getting. I once had a scallop dish that was so overwhelming seasoned with garlic that I could not taste the delicate scallops…at all. Majorly disappointing since seafood is my thing. I’m a fish-a-holic. I will eat fish anytime. The season of Lent should be marked with hamburgers by me. Instead, it is my favorite time of year because the seafood is always the freshest.
Garlic also has the unfortunate side effect of making me extremely thirsty. After a heavily garlicked meal, I need gallons of water to tame the thirst. It never happens with anything else. I don’t suppose I’m the only one. But it is annoying. There is one restaurant in New England that serves a roasted garlic bulb with their bread. It is wonderful in that the roasting mellows the garlic and makes it sweet and buttery. That night, the waitstaff continuously restocks my water glass because I can’t get over my parchedness.
So garlic is simply amazing in the proper amounts. What is the proper amount? Well, if you smell like garlic the next day, it’s too much. My best friend is hooked on garlic bread with cheese. It smells good, looks great but is overwhelming in the way it tastes. My poor taste buds can’t cope. But I did try it. Garlicky, cheesy carb overload but that’s what gave it character. After imbibing in a hunk, just to see what made this so special, I reeked for hours. Vampires left town.
Also, if you can’t taste anything but garlic…it’s too much. I enjoy picking out different flavors in my meals. Garlic is like the elephant in the room. You can’t avoid it, escape it, or hide from it…and it won’t go away. If it is just a little elephant, you can put a lamp on it and call it a table or simply enjoy the company.
So cooks of all levels, please, be gentle with your garlic. You can always add more if necessary. I just don’t want to die of thirst.