Nothing says Italian cooking like garlic, or so it would seem. But did you know that garlic wasn’t always a staple of Italian foods?

Garlic only became a favorite of Italian immigrants coming to America because it was tasty, easy to grow, and inexpensive. At Tommy’s Pizza and Subs, we use garlic with many of our traditional dishes. It’s become the norm, something that our tastebuds relish, but it wasn’t always the case.

Before refrigeration, strong flavors like garlic were used to mask either the absence of better ingredients or the taste of foods about to exceed their shelf life. Tales abound of businessmen and nobility who actually refused to eat or be around garlic because it had the “stink of poverty.” Even in more recent times, cooking experts have denigrated its overuse in Italian cooking.

Of course, any ingredient that’s overused is an unwelcome part of any recipe. That’s why Tommy’s uses only freshest ingredients and traditional recipes perfected over the many decades we’ve been cooking for families in southern California. Safe to say, garlic is a mainstay of Americanized Italian dishes, while its use has become more popular in many classic recipes.

Here are some interesting facts about garlic:

• National Garlic Day is celebrated each year in the United States on April 19.
• Garlic is a member of the Lily family, thus it is a flower (not an herb or a spice).
• Garlic has many health benefits. It is thought to be an anti-coagulant, antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial. It’s also thought to lower bad cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, and have cancer-fighting properties.
• Garlic is packed with copper, iron, magnesium, germanium, zinc, and selenium. It also contains amounts of vitamin C and vitamin B, plus fiber and amino acids.
• Garlic is one of the most ancient foods, dating back to ancient Egyptians who used it in their diets more than 8,000 years ago.
• Garlic is native to central Asia, most likely Iran.
• More than 90% of garlic grown in in the USA is grown in California.
• Garlic, along with onion, is toxic to both cats and dogs.

Make Tommy’s Your New Favorite Place to Dine

We invite you to check out Tommy’s in El Cajon/Santee, California for family dining, takeout, delivery, and even catering for a wide range of delicious foods. Since 1989, our family has mastered the art of Italian traditional pizza and subs, making us the favorite place for pizza and other authentic Italian menu items.

Catering

We also provide catering for weddings, special events, company events, holidays, and private socials. Our catering menus include Italian, Greek, BBQ, Hamburgers/Hotdog selections, and more.

You can check out our menu and order online or by phone (619-499-5273) or stop by our restaurant on Magnolia Avenue in Santee, California. Tommy’s now delivers in the area Wednesday through Sunday.