Chester Aaron, Author/Garlic Farmer
Average Rating:
(1 vote)
Radio Kitchen Profile
by: Michael Reining,
Oct 02, 2004
To hear this guest, click the title below
|
 As a garlic farmer, Chester cultivates about 50-60 different varieties of garlic. Each kind with it's own flavor, color and appearance. Pin Chester down, and he'll tell you his favorite is the Russian Red Toch. A variety from his Georgian (that's Russia) roots.
 I met Chester at his favorite eatery, the famous Union Hotel in Occidental, California. The Union Hotel seemed appropriate, as their food is classic Italian served family style (ie, lots of garlic). He treated me to some garlic and tomato bruschette (A recipe that he gave to the chef there).
We chatted about garlic and life. He related to me about how some scholars regard the word "manna", as in the manna from heaven spoken of in the bible, to mean literally "God through Garlicess". Also, he told me a story about a Russian soldier, a POW, he encountered in WWII. The young Russian was injured and pulled out a clove of garlic to use as a salve on his wound. Chester himself used garlic on a melanoma legion on his scalp and says that his treatment with garlic might have been what shrunk the legion. He's not saying the garlic is a miracle plant, just maybe. And he says it with a twinkle in his eye. He starts each day with a "tea" of garlic, a recipe shared with him by a lady who lived to 103-years of age.
He has written 3 books on garlic: "The Great Garlic Book", "Garlic is Life" (both on Ten Speed Press) and "Garlic Kisses". He is a frequent speaker at garlic events. Chester is quite an eclectic character. A young-adult novelist, a college professor (my wife was a student of his at St. Mary's College), and garlic farmer. Who knows what else? That was enough for us.
Links:
|
