Now We’re Cooking – The Garlic Farm Cook Book

This review can also be found on www.TheCulinaryGuide.co.uk. Visit the site for in depth food, drink and travel features and news pieces as well as restaurant and hotel reviews and competitions.

Now We’re Cooking – The Garlic Farm Cook Book

It could just be my imagination, but I experienced a distinct garlicky whiff when opening the pages of this book, which isn’t so much a recipe book as a garlic encyclopaedia, which covers everything from planting, to plaiting to finally cooking the stuff. Being something of a gardener, I’ve grown my own garlic for the last four or five years, but have nowhere near the knowledge – or infectious enthusiasm – exhibited by the Boswell family, who have owned and run The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight since the 1950’s.

With a relaxed and friendly style, The Garlic Farm Cook Book guides the reader through the history of the award-winning Garlic Farm, discusses the varieties available and offers hints and tips on how to produce your own bumper crop, before heading to what I like to think of as the serious business  - eating!

The recipe section is helpfully divided into seasons and contains concoctions to suit every pallet and every culinary level, from Roasted Purple Sprouting Broccoli, to the more ambitious Lamb Kofte Tortilla Wraps. For me, it’s the more simple recipes that really have the wow-factor; the Garlic Bites were devoured before they had time to properly cool and The Best Cheesy Garlic Bread makes you groan out loud in pleasure with the first delectable mouthful, but even the slightly more involved dishes, such as Aubergine, Courgette and Halloumi Stack, are simple to follow and incredibly tasty.

While not a revelation to foodies, The Garlic Farm Cook Book exhibits the versatility of this unassuming little bulb with great success. With sections on folklore, health benefits, and even – ahem – aphrodisiacs (curious, given that if anything was going to bring on a ‘headache’ you’d think it would be garlic breath), this is a great little book that will tell you more than you ever needed (or perhaps wanted) to know about garlic.

The Garlic Farm is a family-run business, based on the Isle of Wight, with a cafe and shop open to visitors daily. The Garlic Farm Cookbook, edited by Natasha Edwards, is £9.50 and available from www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk; 01983 865378.

© Purple Peccadilloes