Chuck Wagon Cook-Off in Clovis (Ruidoso: camper, living, restaurant)

[clairz]

I sure hope you didn't miss the "Duke of the Dutch Oven" 1st annual Clovis Chuck Wagon Cook-Off today at the Curry County Fairgrounds. It was the best!

Our clothes still smell like campfire smoke and we had our first chicken-fried steak. It was probably our first chicken-fried anything, and it was delicious. So were the potatoes and cream gravy and the yeast rolls baked in a Dutch oven with coals on top. The pinto beans were the best I've ever had. I think the peach cobbler had a little Jack Daniels in it, as it had quite a kick. (The wagon boss said it contained a special "vanilla" only made in Tennessee).

We met the nicest people, enjoyed the sunniest day, heard the best bluegrass, and watched some mighty fine calf roping.

You can watch a video of the event
here.

~clairz

[chilegal]

Clairz,
That sure looked like fun. The biscuts looked great, and pictures were great.
I like cooking in a dutch oven but mostly soups and roast. May have to try other things.

[WasSoggyInSeattle]

I wish I would have known earlier, I would have sent my parents. They would have LOVED it. Did they mention when they would have another?


Thanks for sharing!!

[clairz]

Originally Posted by SoggyInSeattle

I wish I would have known earlier, I would have sent my parents. They would have LOVED it. Did they mention when they would have another?

Thanks for sharing!!

The really big one in New Mexico—billed as the world’s richest chuck wagon cook-off--is the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium held in Ruidoso, Oct. 10-12, 2008. This one was filmed in the past for a program on the Food Network.

In the meantime, there is one at Isleta Lakes, NM, May 16-17, 2008. In Clovis you can attend an authentic chuck wagon lunch on the Saturday of the Running Water Draw Cowboy Symposium, June 20-22, 2008.

For a complete calendar of chuck wagon cooking in 2008 and contact information, see the American Chuck Wagon Association schedule.

~clairz

[GregW]

Clairz - You can be really annoying.

Sunday we went to a "clambake" where they served steamed filter feeders in the shell (clams), boiled bugs (lobster), broiled dinosaur (chicken) and the toughest chunk of slow herbivore (beefsteak) I have ever had.

Rare steak, biscuits, fresh veggies and good coffee sound much more enticing. Thanks anyway.

[clairz]

Originally Posted by GregW

Clairz - You can be really annoying.

Sunday we went to a "clambake" where they served steamed filter feeders in the shell (clams), boiled bugs (lobster), broiled dinosaur (chicken) and the toughest chunk of slow herbivore (beefsteak) I have ever had.

Rare steak, biscuits, fresh veggies and good coffee sound much more enticing. Thanks anyway.

Errr..did I mention fresh veggies anywhere?

Greg, eat up on all those boiled bugs that you can, while you can, before you move to NM. I've had lobster out here once in a restaurant and it more or less tasted like bug.


Oh, and don't forget to bring your cholesterol medication, unless you can find a study somewhere that says that chicken-fried steak is good for you.

~clairz

P.S. Did you know they even serve something here called Chicken-Fried Chicken?

[GregW]

Fortunately for me I have a metabolism that does not produce cholesterol. I am living on a low carbohydrate diet that features meat, cheese and eggs and my cholesterol is barely over 100. A cowboy chuck wagon cookout is right up there with some NM chili and green chili cheesburgers.

[clairz]

Originally Posted by GregW

Fortunately for me I have a metabolism that does not produce cholesterol. I am living on a low carbohydrate diet that features meat, cheese and eggs and my cholesterol is barely over 100. A cowboy chuck wagon cookout is right up there with some NM chili and green chili cheesburgers.

And of course, the green chile counteracts everything bad and it makes you real happy, too! (See The Powerful Health Punch of the Mighty Pod).

There! I'm glad we've sorted out all the nutritional benefits of the western diet.

~clairz

[GregW]

I never doubted them. The archtypical grizzled old cowboy is a grizzled OLD cowboy. Hard work, good food with lots of chili and good Mexican beer make for a long life.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by GregW

Fortunately for me I have a metabolism that does not produce cholesterol. I am living on a low carbohydrate diet that features meat, cheese and eggs and my cholesterol is barely over 100. A cowboy chuck wagon cookout is right up there with some NM chili and green chili cheesburgers.

You and i both greg as i do not eat much carbs at all even though i've never had a weight problem.

Give me a huge juicy thick steak with A-1 on it and grilled onions and a large Salad of every vegetable imaginable in it (hot and spicy) and i'm a happy camper.