Lobster balls, gator and kangaroo at the 2016 Gilroy Garlic Festival.

For this annual celebration of all things related to the zesty clove vegetable, my mission is simple: find the strangest foods that the festival has to offer, a task I find both delicious and daunting.

It's a hot Friday afternoon, and I know that I'll have to pace myself so as not to succumb to fullness or fatigue.

After purchasing beer tickets ($7 each), I set my sights on the first target, a GGF tradition.

Here it appears, followed by seven less famous but more obscure Garlic Fest finds:

1. Garlic ice cream (free)

The portion is tiny, about the size of a sample from a frozen yogurt or soft serve shop and hardly worth the space needed for a picture. The first bite tastes of normal vanilla, with a savory, spicy garlic aftertaste that increases with each bite. It's bizarre how well the flavor combination works, I want to dislike it but I can't help but crave more. The cold dairy is most welcome on this warm summer’s day, although it is definitely more sugar cone than ice cream. I'll keep an eye out for garlic ice cream in grocery stores in the future. 3.8/5

2. Cajun Cheesesteak Sliders ($6/two sliders)

Thinly sliced strips of Cajun-seasoned beef steak sit atop a bed of onions, red and green bell peppers and grilled garlic. All of this is sandwiched between two white rolls and topped with a bright yellow-orange E Z Cheese, a nod to the original cheesesteak sandwich from Philadelphia. This dish certainly doesn't hold back on the spice, with the Cajun seasoning taking center stage. The garlic comes into play two minutes after eating, and serves as a pleasant distraction from the burn, which lingers a little long for my liking. The cheese is barely noticeable. The portion size is just right, not enough to fill me up but just right to curb my appetite long enough to develop my strategy for the rest of the festival. 3.5/5

3. Fried Lobster Balls on a Stick ($5/five balls)

These skewered morsels of deep-fried crustacean are my introduction to lobster, and I'm a bit unsure of what to expect. They don't smell too “fishy,” although they are a bit bland. The taste is similar to chicken, with hints of seafood saltiness. Soy sauce helps, although Siracha would be better. The texture is just a little rubbery. I notice a disappointing lack of garlic in this dish. There's not much good or bad about the lobster balls, they just sort of exist. Not very impressive or filling. 2.6/5

4. Barbecue Oysters ($8/three oysters)

Until now, my exposure to the mollusks has been limited to tequila oyster shots or raw on a half shell. The three oysters were grilled on their half shell and sprinkled with garlic. A few dashes of malt vinegar and Tapatio hot sauce add tartness and zest to the already smokey dish. Fresh lime wedges lend more tanginess. These oysters are extremely tender, melting in the mouth with no chewing needed. Although a small snack, the dish renews my faith in the Garlic Festival’s seafood offerings. 4/5

5. Crab Garlic Fries ($9)

This hearty dish consists of thick-cut, beer-battered French fries topped with a creamy garlic aioli sauce and finely shredded crab meat. The fries are crispy but not dry, and the aioli doesn't overpower the dish like I've experienced in the past. The tender crab meat adds both sweet and salty flavors, as well as providing a protein boost. This dish is definitely one to share with friends, as attempting to tackle it solo could result in an impromptu nap in the shade. 3.5/5

6. Fried Alligator ($5/three morsels)

Definitely one of the more unique foods offered at the festival, the pieces of gator are breaded and seasoned with a garlic-heavy blend of herbs and spices. The meat itself tastes almost exactly like chicken, although slightly more tender. The bite-sized morsels are large enough to justify the price, and I'll definitely be eating more gator in the future. 3.7/5

7. Boiled Crawdads ($10)

Despite hailing from The South-ish (Houston, Texas to be exact), I have never tried crawdads before. As excited as I am to try the boiled crustaceans, I can't help but be disappointed. For one, there is hardly any garlic flavor here. Instead, the crawdads taste like warm salt water mixed with an off-putting herbal flavor reminiscent of cheap gin. Maybe it was a bad batch, maybe they were in the sun for too long, but I just can't bring myself to say anything good about them. A waste of money and time. 1.5/5

8. Barbecue Kangaroo Meat ($5/three pieces on a skewer)

I certainly wasn't expecting to see kangaroo on the menu, but I knew I had to try it. This is hands down my favorite dish of the day. The flavor reminds me of a leaner version of brisket, and just as tender. The marsupial meat has a smokey flavor from the grill complemented by a sweet garlic barbecue sauce. I'd order two or three more skewers, but all of the food has caught up with me and I cannot eat another bite without bursting. A must-try for anyone attending the festival, novices and veterans alike. I only wish the portions were bigger. 4.5/5

Eight of the strangest foods at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, and perhaps my life so far. With only two disappointments, that's a pretty good record.

One unqualified success: The festival itself.

Organizers report 4,000 volunteers made the 38th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival able to welcome over 82,000 guests.

Revenue from the three-day festival totaled an estimated $2,305,234, up 7 percent from 2015.