Each Hudson Valley Garlic Festival features renowned chefs from the Hudson Valley and beyond, and 2008 will be no exception.

Click Entertainment and Lecture Schedule to see what last year's schedule for the chef's demos involved. We will update this site with the participating chefs for 2008 as we approach the beginning of September. In the meantime, here is a rundown of who participated last year.

• Pat Crocker is a writer, photographer, author of 4 cookbooks and the handbook, 'Oregano: 2005 Herb of the Year'. Pat is passionate about food and herbs. Her 'Juicing Bible' won 'Best in the World' at the World Cookbook Revue in France, 2000; her newest cookbook is 'The Smoothies Bible' and her latest creative effort,'Oregano: Herb of the Year 2005' is a popular handbook of tips, information, history, and recipes using Oregano and Marjoram. At this year's Hudson Valley Garlic Festival, Pat prepares a delicious garlic mushroom chicken.
• Ric Orlando is the chef/owner of New World Home Cooking. Ric is a well-known chef in the Hudson Valley, having appeared several times on NBC's Today Show as well as Northeast Public Radio. Chef Orlando is committed to serving healthful and assertive flavors of the American melting pot with lots of garlic, fresh herbs, and hot chiles. His very popular restaurant and catering business, New World Home Cooking, is located on Route 212, about 6 miles west of Saugerties. His demos will feature fresh regional products and will include the recipe for his highly popular blackened string beans.