What?!?! No Garlic?!?!?

[Free Rider]

Mike, some Hindu don't use garlic at all because of religious reasons. You didn't mention India, but I thought I'd throw that tidbit in there with all of yours.

[OregonYeti]

Ok but there are probably very few Hindus who don't use garlic. I grew up in India and it's a good thing that garlic's really popular there

[DC Sunshine]

Originally Posted by MikeLM

It's been my impression that the farther north from the Mediterannean you go, the less garlic you will find in the cuisine. I'm not sure the Scandinavians have even heard of it... God knows what the Finns or Latvians do with it.

Mike,
Interesting theory. My heritage is Latvian, and I can't say I've had a dish with it or any time with food while growing up. Never had it till I left home and began cooking for myself, and our cuisine ranged from German, Latvian to Russian and all areas inbetween. At least for the cooking we had at home. Maybe the parents didn't like it!

But what about South of the mediterannean? I think you'll find it increases. And probably continues all the way south (although I don't know if the Antarctic penguins like it ). I don't know about southern african cuisine - anyone know if garlic is used there?

But - life without garlic??? <<shudder>>


DC

P.S. Good for the heart and fighting colds (and vampires) too

[KYHeirloomer]

"Garlic in Russia?"

Absolutely, Mike.

In fact, many garlic varieties originated in Siberia. And the Georgian Republic is one of the largest garlic producers going. There's not a garden anywhere that doesn't grow it---often a variety different than the one in the neighbor's yard.

Two of the favorite varieties grown by Americans---Red Toch and Chesnook Red---come from Georgia.

Garlic is also found in the Ismamic republics of the old USSR, and some have been imported to the U.S. The variety misnamed "Persian Star", for instance, is one such.

[Ishbel]

Whoops, I inadvertently posted this comment in the Vidalia onion thread, instead of this one!


I visited the Isle of Wight one year when they were holding their annual Garlic festival. I tried (BLECH) the garlic ice-cream. It was up there with sweetbreads as one of my least favourite flavours!

The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival

[Dr. Zoidberg]

my two favorits are Garlic and Cilantro. I LOVE the flavor of Garlic (keeps the vampires away too ) but Cilantro.... WOW!!! I just LOVE the aroma left on my fingers after i've been chopping Cilantro.

[Ishbel]

Me, too! In the UK, we call the leaves and seeds coriander, not cilantro.

[Free Rider]

Here in the US, the seeds are coriander and the leaves are cilantro.

[shel]

Originally Posted by Dr. Zoidberg

my two favorits are Garlic and Cilantro. I LOVE the flavor of Garlic (keeps the vampires away too ) but Cilantro.... WOW!!! I just LOVE the aroma left on my fingers after i've been chopping Cilantro.

I love cilantro as well. Almost can't get enough of it. I'll sometimes make a cilantro garlic spread with natural cream cheese, and put a big shmear of it on a fresh jalapeno bagel. Heaven!

Shel

[shortstack]

I love garlic in my cooking. I guess it's good to branch out but I am definitely quick to throw it in to things I am cooking. Although I don't think it works well with spinach...

[KYHeirloomer]

I can't believe you said that, Shortstack.

Spinach cooked with garlic is the bomb!

[shel]

Originally Posted by shortstack

I love garlic in my cooking. I guess it's good to branch out but I am definitely quick to throw it in to things I am cooking. Although I don't think it works well with spinach...

Spinach with garlic is a classic combination .... mmmm

Shel

[Harpua]

Ever been to a Chinese restaurant that uses no garlic or any form of onion? If they do it well, you never notice. Ginger kind of takes its place.

I guess it is a belief of some people in the Buddhist schools of Theravada and Mahayana from China or Vietnam that it excites the blood (sexual desire and anger).

I frequent a vegetarian Chinese restaurant with no garlic or onion and it is amazing food!! Better than our old family standby restaurant.

[MikeLM]

Thanks for the interesting responses about the geographic reach of garlic. I'm a little better informed for your information.

I lived on the west coast of Africe for a year - quite a few years ago - in Liberia, and my family was interested in "native" cuisine, and I have no memory of any garlic. "Billy Goat" peppers, on the other hand... WHOOOOOOEEEEE! I mentioned this before and several posters suggested the Billy Goat was closely related to the habanero.

But, for that matter, I had almost no exposure to garlic in Bethesda, MD where I did most of the rest of my growing up.

For the last several decades I qualify as what a lot of foodies refer to as a "heavy-duty garlic freak." Couldn't get along without it.

Fun thread.

Mike

[Smylietron]

I can't imagine life without garlic. Went to an Italian restaurant a while back and, when I found out there was no garlic bread available (despite the rich scent of garlic wafting from the kitchen), convinced the waiter to bring me some roast garlic. My date was, strangely, not impressed.