GarLic it! licks the competition | Business

What’s not to like about garlic? It is healthy, tasty and, now, courtesy of GarLic it! of Bellevue, available in 11 different easy to use food products.

In fact, about a week ago GarLic it’s! newest product, Caramelized Garlic Finish, was selected as the sofi Gold Award Winner Outstanding New Product of 2011. This prize is awarded by the National Association of Specialty Food Trade (NASFT). It licked 32 other ingenious and amazing gourmet food items.

Of course, husband and wife owners LLance (yes, two l’s) and Lori Kezner of Bellevue are thrilled with the honor. LLance Kezner described the caramelized onion garnish as “a bunch of cloves sliced up, triple blanched and hand sautéed such that the concoction tastes soft and almost sweet with a nutty flavor.”

A former software sales executive, Kezner explained that this product, like all of their garlic goodies, is made of all fresh, natural ingredients in a commercial kitchen in Gold Bar, Washington, “But this product is especially difficult to make. That is why we are known as a true small batch product company.”

GarLic it! products, including its signature Basil Garlic have been stocked in regional QFC food stores since 2009. Consumers can also purchase the basic line at Whole Foods and St. Michelle Winery in Redmond or Fischer Meats in Issaquah.

However, the award-winning caramelized chewy topping is a bit more expensive at $9.95 for a 5.5oz jar. As a result, it can be found at fewer locations such as St. Michelle Winery in Redmond, Oil & Vinegar at Bellevue Square and Top of the Hill in Renton.

“All our products are designed for home chefs so their meals taste like those at a restaurant,” said Llance Kezner, who described himself as a home chef. “We have found that home chefs love anything that can make their favorite dishes even better.”

How do you cook or eat this nouveau caviar?

“Out of the jar on a spoon like candy,” said Lori Kezner, who teaches school at the Jewish Day School in Bellevue. “But other people like to use it as a garnish or topping on appetizers or pasta.”

The Kezners suggest a couple of easy ways to enjoy their latest innovative food. For one, put a little goat cheese on a cracker and “dabble” the product on top.

A second easy appetizer is featured on their website called “Caramelized Garlic & Fig:” Arrange the sliced figs on a plate, then add a pea-size portion of goat cheese to the top of each sliced date, then cover with caramelized garlic.”