Garlic Festival — Local Chefs
A
nyone who has been around the
Gilroy Garlic Festival for the last 37
years knows to expect a surprise or
two. There is always something to wake
the senses…the sights…the sounds…the
smells…the people…the weather.
The 2015 Garlic Festival had plenty of
“wake-ups.” The weather was perfect, the
crowds manageable and the “feel” up beat
and positive. One of those events took place
on the Cook Off Stage Friday afternoon.
Local celebrity chefs Gene Sakahara and
Sam Bozzo, the SakaBozzo twins, “separated
at birth,” appeared again. This duo has
been mixing comedic banter and cooking
for twenty-one years. For years the two, one
Italian and one Japanese, have combined
a rapid-fire fun-loving dialog with some
great cooking tips and techniques. But on
Friday they might have met their match in
a 10-year old St Mary’s student.
Alexis Higgins was a contestant on Fox’s
Master Chef Junior this last January 2015.
Alexis, one of the youngest contestants, did
well but was eliminated from the show, but
not from cooking appearances. This unique
young lady has a remarkable confidence and
some pretty significant cooking skills. After
a recent tour of Pulmuone Foods (produc-
ers of Monterey Gourmet Foods) here in
Gilroy she was asked to compete with the
in-house chef and to prepare a meal. In
deference to her age the planners set out a
small chef ’s knife on her workstation. She
immediately asked for a “real knife” and
proceeded to prepare a delicious entre using
some of the Monterey Gourmet Foods
products. The consensus in the kitchen
that night was that it was too close to
call a winner.
On stage at the Garlic Festival Alexis
joined SakaBozzo in preparing three dishes:
Alexis, Garlic Mushrooms, Sam Bozzo,
Kale and Italian Sausage, Gene Sakahara,
Penne alla Boscaiola. Alexis got assistance
from Sam and Gene but also helped the
two prepare their dishes. In addition to
the food, three things stood out …this kid
knows how to cook, she has fun doing it
and she can banter with the best of them.
SakaBozzo might have more years together
on stage than Alexis has age but she stood
there strong and confident. SakaBozzo got a
real-life, up-close-and-personal taste of the
future.
Alexis Higgins and SakaBozzo
The Start of
Something
Scrumptious
By Larry J. Mickartz
36
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
gmhtoday.com