Gilroy? Who needs Gilroy?The city’s renowned garlic...

Gilroy? Who needs Gilroy?

The city’s renowned garlic festival, held earlier this month, is getting a challenge from Ventura’s own City Bakery. The restaurant and coffeehouse will be hosting a garlic celebration of its own Monday through Aug. 26.

Owner Mabel Chase along with chefs Rose Burtchby and Jason Bays recently spent some time mulling over garlic-laden recipes, and have come up with a lineup of daily lunch specials to highlight the week.

“We were just talking about Gilroy and the garlic festival and we figured we should have one of our own,” Chase said. “I think there’s a sense that August is a garlic month. It’s the peak of the garlic season.”

Specials of the day will include roast garlic linguine with arugula and lemon (Monday), roast garlic pizza with red onion and goat cheese (Tuesday), duck sausage with garlic mashed potatoes (Wednesday), garlic chicken (Thursday), and bouillabaisse (Friday). Garlic rolls, soups and salads will also be available.

The garlic gala will culminate Aug. 26, with a five-course garlic meal. Reservations are being accepted and seating is limited. Cost is $25 per person. There will be seatings at 6 and 8 p.m. In addition, Ventura garlic farmer Tyrone Swader will be on hand to answer questions and educate visitors about the flavorful plant.

City Bakery is at 2358-C E. Main St. Call 643-0861 for reservations.

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Chef Harry Brockwell, owner of Oceanside Caterers in Ventura (and the Harry’s at the Beach snack bar at San Buenaventura State Beach), has been accepted into the American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of the American Culinary Federation.

Founded in 1955, the honor society pays tribute to chefs who have maintained high standards and have achieved longstanding success. To be accepted, chefs must meet a list of criteria, which include being in the culinary profession a minimum of 15 years, at least 10 of those on the executive chef level.

Brockwell, a resident of Westlake Village, is a member of the American Culinary Federation’s Channel Islands Chefs Assn.

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More moving and shaking within the restaurant ranks: Brian Brennan, manager of the Chart House Restaurant in Ventura, has been named chairman of the Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau for 1995-1996.