Latvia and its love for Garlic

We rounded off our Baltic State holiday and delighted in finding last minute culinary and cultural delights the city had to offer.   From the outset of our trip, I was happy to note that Baltic cooking in all three nations delighted in garlic infused treats, particularly deep fried rye breadsticks served with a garlic dipping sauce. It was in this spirit that we came upon a simple restaurant on a cobbled side street in Riga's old town: the Garlic Pub. 

For those of you who know me, you'll know that garlic is in my top five of foods to adore and cherish.  I was ready for the garlic experience and the menu was chock full of choice--from garlic beer to pickled garlic, ranging across from garlic soup to garlic ice cream. 

Since the summer hadn't officially died yet, a few tables were strategically placed outside.  Inside, the rest were a collection of wooden benches and tables, to the effect of a Scandinavian Sauna effervescing garlic.       

                                      

The three of us opted for the garlic mezze--'a medley of garlic delights', their words not ours.  The plate came loaded with garlic stuffed olives, roasted garlic, garlic flatbread, pickled garlic, garlic infused green beans and garlic cheese.  

                                     

 Rosa and I, but not Judith, then made the further decision of washing it all down with a pint of garlic beer.  The beer, brewed in Latvia, was stored in casks infused with garlic.  It was then served with little flecks of pickled garlic to enhance the taste. Finally, it was topped off with a skewer of roasted garlic to nibble on in case you forgot what garlic tasted like.  

I got through about half my pint before the indigestion set in.  Heartburn shortly followed. A series of man-sounding and smelling toxic fumes escaped Rosa's and my mouth before we could put the whole ordeal behind us.  

Now this isn't to argue that the restaurant was bad. Far from it.  The service was delightful, the food that other people ordered looked and smelled like good food should look and smell, the prices were reasonable and it wasn't at all gimmicky.  Tripadvisor disciples swear by it: Tripadvisor Garlic Pub. None of these critics appear to be vampires.

I have to respect Latvia's love for the garlic but as for the beer, we'll agree to disagree. And my final opinion of Latvia as a whole still stands.  Go! Visit! You'll fall in love.