Garlic's a staple, it's just present in so much cooking:
Italian food - Garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, (maybe some rosemary)
Chinese food - Garlic, soy sauce, ginger, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar
Indian food - Garlic, Cardamom, Clove, Pepper, Cumin, Cinnamon, Coriander, Nutmeg, Tumeric, Saffron, Onion
Thai food - Garlic, Lemon grass, Basil, Lime, Ginger, Peppers
etc.