Colonial Williamsburg Brunswick Stew

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Hey, Craig, Brunswick stew is on my day-off-from-quail-hunting list for this year before the squirrel season ends, and I may use your recipe. BTW, Williamsburg is my home town...and, for those of our colleagues from Georgia (this will get a rise, no doubt), Brunswick stew is a Virginia original, not from Georgia. But, hey, if you grew up in Virginia, you learned all of this in school.

Many many churches fire departments etc in Virginia make their own versions of Brunswick Stew and use them to raise money . I’ve never had one that was bad but I’ve also never had it made with tree rats . Intresting to know you grew up in Williamsburg ! My mom loved the beach and my pop would get sun sickness at the beach after a day or two . My pop was also a big historian which may explain my taste in furniture art etc . Anyway when they took a weeks vacation we’d usually do four days at Colonial Williamsburg and three days at Virginia Beach . Everyone was happy and my pop usually came out in flying colors . Funny story one year we were there and I think we were at Kings Tavern having lunch think I was in the 8-11 range . Anyway I ordered Orange sherbet and iced coffee . The waiter looked at my mother and said bring it with half a glass of milk and of course there was sugar on the table . The waiter stood and watched while I mixed it the way my maternal grandmother did it was about 50-50 coffee and milk with a spoonful of sugar . After that strangely enough they never questioned it again .

[mobirdhunter]

Assuming we are fairly close in age, I'm sure I was probably wandering about Williamsburg when you were making your exotic treat. It was interesting growing up there. Many of my friends parents worked for what we called, "The Restoration" (Colonial Williamsburg), and I recall one friend's father who came home from work dressed like a blacksmith. At that time if you lived in the area, you got free guest passes (also to Jamestown and Yorktown) and could use the buses and enter the various buildings for free. It was a great place to grow up...and the town cleared out in the winter, making it even more appealing. We belonged to a hunt club (a poor man's version) that had about 400 acres adjacent to the Colonial Parkway. We had deer stands along the route and when you heard a car slow down, you knew a deer was crossing and needed to be ready to shoot. On "stand" was to sit atop a Revolutionary War embankment -- my favorite. I also hunted on land that is now Busch Gardens. Things change (and seldom for the best).

BTW, do you put butterbeans in your stew? It's the only thing I won't put in mine...ever(!) Squirrel, however, was a staple for dinner at our house growing up.

I hope you'll post a photo of your stew like you often do for you "lunches at the shop."

[6pt-Sika]

I’ve never tried making Brunswick stew so I’ll most likely put Lima beans . My great grandmother used to fry squirrels for me if I killed them . I’ve never been a big fan of tree rats to eat but I wanna try . I turned 60 this year .

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

I turned 60 this year .

A young pup you are! But, I was living in Williamsburg when you were 8-10. Come to think of it, I do recall scuttle about some kid who mixed an odd coffee drink at one of the taverns in town. I think it made the famous Virginia Gazette.