Q: On a recent golf trip with some buddies, we stopped at a restaurant called The Garlic in New Smyrna Beach Florida. This place is a garlic lovers nirvana and being Italian, I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I had the garlic mussel appetizer. The taste of the garlic, Sambuca and other items come together to make a delicious appetizer or entree. Any chance you can get the recipe? Thanks, Charlie Mussoline – Cooper City

A: Rumor has it that you can smell the garlic outside wafting from The Garlic (556 E. Third Ave., New Smyrna Beach, 386-424-6660, thegarlic.net) before you even enter the restaurant. According to Executive Chef Michael Perri, the kitchen goes through over 1000 pounds of garlic a month bolstering Charlie’s garlic lovers nirvana claim. A large portion of this amount is served roasted with bread to each guest. Whole heads are roasted 2 1/2 hours in a wood fired oven, smashed and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. Sounds like a winner to me!

Recipe: Garlic Mussels from The Garlic

Sambuca, an Italian anise-flavored liquor, coupled with the garlic, gives this dish its prominent flavors and mass appeal.

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 dozen Prince Edward Island mussels, washed and debearded

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1 tablespoon chopped fresh shallot

1/2 cup white wine

1/4 cup Sambuca

4 tablespoon unsalted butter

Salt and black pepper, to taste

Chopped fresh basil, for garnish

Crusty bread, for serving

1 Using a large saute pan over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the mussels, garlic and shallot, stirring occasionally. Just before the garlic starts to brown, add the wine.

2 When the mussels start to open and release their natural juices, add the Sambuca and butter. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Reduce liquid for approximately 2 minutes.

3 Discard any mussels that do not open. Sprinkle with basil and serve with crusty bread for sopping up the juices.

Makes 4 appetizer servings

Nutrition information per serving: 254 calories, 59% calories from fat, 17g fat, 8g saturated fat, 57mg cholesterol,

8g carbohydrates, 3g total sugar, 0g added sugar, 12g protein, 276mg sodium, 0g fiber