Enjoying the JourneyChuck Wagon Cook Off: A Western Tradition
October 17th 2010 22:23
Link: takeintexas.com
Americans have a fascination with every Western, from their beloved cowboys in white hats, to their horses and sidekicks and even with the simple food the cowboys enjoyed.
One of the traditions that has endured over the years is chuck wagon cooking made in cast iron kettles and skillets. Today, there are many competitions held year round throughout the West to celebrate the best of the chuck wagon feast.
This year the 6th annual Llano, TX Chuck Wagon Cookoff was held in October and 20 chuck wagons set up camp to compete for belt buckles and cash prizes. Each wagon was given identical supplies, in identical amounts and had to prepare a meal for "40 ranch hands". The supplies they were given were chicken fried steak patties, flour, beans, potatoes and peaches. They are allowed to add their own ingredients to make their meal truly special and unique.
To add to the festivity all team members are dressed in western garb of the 1880's and use utensils just as orginal chuck wagon would have at hand at the time.
Visitors arrive early to take in the sights, sounds and smells and, of course, plenty of photos. Most of the wagons are over 100 years old and have been maintained or refurbished to original condition. When you see 20 wagons all lined up, with plenty of western folk attending to them it surely seems like you have stepped back in time.
At a specified time, each wagon calls its ranch hands to dinner with the ringing of the loud clanging triangular dinner bell. The "40 ranch hands" are those visitors who have purchased tickets to attend the dinner and sample their chosen chuck wagon's feast. We were fortunate to have tickets for Bear Creek Ranch from Kerrville, TX dinner. We, along with the other ranch hands, lined up accordingly and were given a plate, and as we walked down the line it was piled high with chicken fried steak and gravy, seasoned mashed potatoes, beans, biscuits and bubbling peach cobbler with whiskey sauce. To say the least it was delicious and I sure would have like to brought more of that peach cobbler home.
Chuck Wagon cook offs are a fun event for the entire family. There is plenty of room for the kids to run around and they enjoy seeing all the cowboys and cowgirls and all their gear. Adults love the food, and the comradary of the folks and even the eldest member of your family will enjoy the atmosphere and the bringing back of memories of earlier times. It is an event for everyone, just come, enjoy and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the day!
One of the traditions that has endured over the years is chuck wagon cooking made in cast iron kettles and skillets. Today, there are many competitions held year round throughout the West to celebrate the best of the chuck wagon feast.
This year the 6th annual Llano, TX Chuck Wagon Cookoff was held in October and 20 chuck wagons set up camp to compete for belt buckles and cash prizes. Each wagon was given identical supplies, in identical amounts and had to prepare a meal for "40 ranch hands". The supplies they were given were chicken fried steak patties, flour, beans, potatoes and peaches. They are allowed to add their own ingredients to make their meal truly special and unique.
To add to the festivity all team members are dressed in western garb of the 1880's and use utensils just as orginal chuck wagon would have at hand at the time.
Visitors arrive early to take in the sights, sounds and smells and, of course, plenty of photos. Most of the wagons are over 100 years old and have been maintained or refurbished to original condition. When you see 20 wagons all lined up, with plenty of western folk attending to them it surely seems like you have stepped back in time.
At a specified time, each wagon calls its ranch hands to dinner with the ringing of the loud clanging triangular dinner bell. The "40 ranch hands" are those visitors who have purchased tickets to attend the dinner and sample their chosen chuck wagon's feast. We were fortunate to have tickets for Bear Creek Ranch from Kerrville, TX dinner. We, along with the other ranch hands, lined up accordingly and were given a plate, and as we walked down the line it was piled high with chicken fried steak and gravy, seasoned mashed potatoes, beans, biscuits and bubbling peach cobbler with whiskey sauce. To say the least it was delicious and I sure would have like to brought more of that peach cobbler home.
Chuck Wagon cook offs are a fun event for the entire family. There is plenty of room for the kids to run around and they enjoy seeing all the cowboys and cowgirls and all their gear. Adults love the food, and the comradary of the folks and even the eldest member of your family will enjoy the atmosphere and the bringing back of memories of earlier times. It is an event for everyone, just come, enjoy and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the day!
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Comment by GlenB
Raw Fish
Comment by Anonymous
Thanks for asking