Highwood's 9th Annual Garlic Fest Declared a Stinking Good Time

On Wednesday, August 14th, the intoxicating scent of garlic and the promise of a stinking good time beckoned the crowds back to Everts Park for Highwood’s 9th Annual Garlic Fest!Celebrate Highwood’ssmelliest event showcased the beloved flavor of garlic, known for its culinary and medicinal purposes, while attendees sampled a variety of garlic creations from out-of-the-ordinary garlic-infused chocolate, cookies, funnel cakes, and garlic-infused cocktails, to the classic, savory options like pastas, sandwiches, sauces and spreads.

In addition to the annual People’s Choice Award for the Best Taste of Garlic in the Sweet & Savory categories, this years’ competition included a professional panel of judges including Lauren Magiera of WGN TV, Jon Levey, President of Highland Park Bank & Trust and Mark Czubak, restaurant/bar industry veteran.

And the winners are…..

Taste of Garlic Competition in the categories of Sweet & Savory:

JUDGE’S CHOICE

· 1stPlace Savory– Baked Cheese Haus, Mineral Point, WI, for their Queijo de Coalho: Brazilian-style Grilled Cheese on a Stick served 3 ways: drizzled with garlic mojo, drizzled with black rum maple syrup or drizzled with hot pepper jelly

• Runner Up Savory- Keep It Hot for theirGarlic Greek chicken layered in a bed of spinach
• Runner Up Sweet– The Toadstool Pub, Highwood, for their Charlotte’s Candied Bacon
• 1stPlace Sweet– The Toadstool Pub, Highwood, for their Charlotte’s Candied Bacon

· 1stPlace Sweet– Tes Flores & Co. for their Garlic Funnel Cake, Tres Flores & Co. Funnel Cakes, Waukegan

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

· 1stPlace Savory– Keep It Hot for their Garlic Greek chicken layered in a bed of spinach

· Runner Up Savory- BBQ Baron, Wheeling, Up Garlic Brisket Sliders,

● Runner Up– Swirl Café Food Truck, Grayslake, for their Sweet Cherry Balsamic Brownie with Black Garlic

Garlic Royalty Competition:

● Garlic King: Mark Tulloss of Highland Park “old enough to be king”

● Garlic Prince: Wyatt Turner of Lake Forest, 7 years old

● Garlic Princess: Barbee Williams of Highwood, 10 years old

• Garlic Baby: Charlotte Regan of Highwood, 2 years old
###/ulHighwood Historical Societyhosted its 12th Annual Terrific Tomato Contest and invited all residents of Highwood and members of the Historical Society to submit their top tomato for a chance of winning the title of 'Most Terrific Tomato in Town' and a cash prize of $100. The tomatoes will be weighed, calibrated and judged at the Fest, and voted on by the public for 'People's Choice'. The winner of the People’s Choice was a tie between brothers Crosby and Clayton Mead. And, ironically the Judge’s choice for the title of ‘Most Terrific Tomato in Town’ went to the Mead brother’s neighbor, Lilia Bolek,…there must be something in the soil. Live entertainment was provided by Ravinia Ramblers, a local band composed of veteran musicians who put their own spin to familiar covers by using deep vocal harmony. Music sponsored by Coffee Cup Productions. Special thanks to our sponsors Highland Park Bank & Trust/Bank of Fort Sheridan, Passanantes Home Food Service,Chiro One Wellness Centers, and StateFarm Brian Lock Agency For more information on Garlic Fest, please visit www.celebratehighwood.org/project/garlic-fest, follow Celebrate Highwood on Facebook, or call 847.432.6000.