On Saturday, September 2, 2023, the Festiv'Ail at the Marché Locavore , a large garlic festival now in its 10th year and which has established itself as the annual event at the Racine market, where up to 1000 people gather to stock up on garlic and discover the many facets of this unique, freshly harvested food.
I asked Johanne Breton, who has been present since the first event as a market gardener at Jardins Naturlutte, why this festival was so popular and she answered me straight away "Because garlic brings people together!" Perhaps like the Provençal proverb " Garlic is to health what perfume is to the rose" , garlic is at the heart of our lives, a food with many therapeutic virtues and an incomparable vector of taste that reigns supreme in all Quebec kitchens.
There will therefore be 8 producers present including Garlic sprig , Lake Gardens And Nartulutte Gardens , and we can get garlic in all its forms, whether in braids, in bulk, in powder, in salted garlic flowers (excellent for our soups!), in garlic flower flakes, without forgetting the black garlic, so exquisite.
We can also talk about conservation, because, for example, garlic braids can be kept until next June, and make appreciated and original hostess gifts. So it's a good time to stock up because the garlic we find in grocery stores in winter generally comes from China and is much less tasty, not to mention that it's so much more ecological and ethical to source locally.
And what about black garlic, which takes on a completely different taste and can be eaten directly on a crouton with cheese as a tasty dessert (the New France cheese factory always award-winning is a direct neighbor of the market!). The other producers at the market also take advantage of this happy day to prepare dishes in honor of garlic and inspire us with new recipes.
The names of the varieties that will be offered to us pique our curiosity while reading like a mouth-watering restaurant menu: garlic Music Porcelain, Italian artichoke garlic, Purple striated garlic Chesnok Red , purple marbled striated garlic Siberian , garlic Rocambole Puslinch , Creole garlic Rose de Lautrec , garlic Elephant , garlic Romanian Red.
These crops all have different tastes and properties and the producers will be honored to present them to you, and why not then do taste tests with your guests at home by infusing your varieties in olive oil, you will experience all the diversity of these flavors and discover a new culinary universe.
It's also time to visit the famous Racine Locavore Market, one of the most beautiful markets in Quebec with its wooden structure kiosks, its festive atmosphere enlivened by musicians and all the joy of the locals who love to meet there every week.
Our markets are often run by volunteers, benefit from a small budget, and by participating, we support an important event in our community and contribute to the wonderful culture of going to the market on Saturdays, a universal, festive, and family-friendly activity. We also embrace this essential and nourishing exchange between us, the consumers, and our precious local producers.
Here are the farms that will be present this Saturday, and happy Garlic Festival 2023!
- The Free Field Farm - Rémi Bousquet
- Kristina Janežič
- La Maricourtoise Farm
- Pandora Cultures
- Marydan Farm
- Garlic sprig
- Lake Gardens
- Narturlutte Gardens
When?
Saturday, September 2, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Or?
Locavore Market,
154 A, Route 222
Racine Qc. J0E 1Y0
