Garlic Mustard Cook-Off!

Garlic Mustard. Just the name gives some the heebie-jeebies. It was brought over from Europe with the settlers for use in cooking.   But this invasive alien plant has one benefit that most of our invasives lack; it tastes fantastic! 

This year, in collaboration with Nature Day and Earth Day weekend,

the Darke County Parks is hosting our 1st Annual Garlic Mustard Cook-off! The rules are simple.  During the week of April 15-19, set up a time with a Naturalist to harvest your garlic mustard (to help the Park and make sure it’s the correct plant!)  

Garlic Mustard must be harvested from Shawnee Prairie Preserve in order to be eligible.  Once you have your supply of Garlic Mustard, go home and whip up ANYTHING you’d like to enter (you must provide a printed list of ingredients).  Once you have created your culinary masterpiece, drop your entry off at 10:30am on April 20th at the Nature Center (4267 State Route 502 West). 

There will be an award for the “Best Overall” and “Most Original Recipe”. The Kitchenaid Experience will donate the first place prize! Our Judges will include a member of Darke County Parks’ staff, a representative from The Kitchenaid Experience and a mystery judge! So, flex those culinary muscles and let’s see what you’ve got!  To register for the Cook-off or for any questions, call the Nature Center at 937.548.0165.