[KHTS] – Art SLAM, which is part of the city’s free Thursdays at Newhall event series, will feature free food tastings, cooking demonstrations and an open-air gallery that will showcase an array of artists, photographers, models, designers and musicians– all with the common theme of garlic, city officials announced Wednesday. 

“We wanted to do something a little different, and we thought garlic could be a good theme,” said Phil Lantis, the arts and events administrator for the city of Santa Clarita. “It’s a strong food, but it’s one that people tend to embrace if they love it. We felt like it would have some good opportunities for artists to respond to, as well as local food establishments to do tastings.”

The event will feature a mix of food and art, and food as art, much like April’s cheese-themed Art SLAM.

Attendees can sample a number of garlic dishes from Santa Clarita eateries, including cheesy garlic bread from Vincenzo’s Pizza, creamy garlic mashed potatoes from Larson’s Steakhouse, black garlic ice cream from the Refinery, garlic hummus and pita from the Persia Lounge and a garlic Jewish pastry called rugelach from Baker’s Gourmet Coffee and Bakery, Lantis said.

In addition, several professional chefs will provide cooking demonstrations throughout the evening.

Chef Judy Gilbert from Culinary Wonders, Santa Clarita’s only recreational cooking school,  plans to teach attendees how to create a creamy garlic mousse, while Chef Raul Bojorquez from El Trocadero restaurant is scheduled to give a lesson on shrimp scampi.

Representatives from the cookware company Williams-Sonoma are also planning to demonstrate how to make chicken with 40 cloves of garlic, and attendees 21 and over can stop by the Reparatory East Playhouse for a free garlic bruschetta appetizer and wine pairing, Lantis said.

“It’s a great opportunity to come to the arts and entertainment district in Newhall and see the artwork and try some cool food,” he said. “We encourage people to come on down and check it out.”

Art SLAM is held the first Thursday of the month between Market Street and Main Street in Old Town Newhall, where the block is transformed into an open-air art gallery for the evening.

The garlic-themed Art SLAM is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. on June 5.