Enjoy a Bowl of Burgoo This Weekend

Everyone needs, at least once in life, to try a hot steamy bowl of Burgoo.  In fact, you can enjoy one this weekend!

It's the 47th Annual Burgoo Festival this Saturday and Sunday in Utica, IL.  That's just a little over an hours drive from Rockford.

I'm telling you it's worth checking out. It has everything that a fall festival has to offer. Food, music, entertainment, flea market, crafts, etc.. Plus of course the star of the weekend, it's name sake the Burgoo.

Now I bet you're wondering what is Burgoo? Well it's kind of like beef stew with a tomato base sauce.I thought it was yummy.

According to the LaSalle County Historical Society, Burgoo is based off the former pioneer dish "made with wild game such as venison or squirrel, and whatever the pioneers grew. Current state health laws prevent selling soup made from game."

Nowadays, the Burgoo is made of "beef, carrots, potatoes, hominy, celery, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, peppers, and other vegetables carefully blended with special spices and herbs. It is cooked outdoors for between 12 and 18 hours over a wood-burning fire that gives it a special taste. Squads of volunteer vegetable choppers and kettle stirrers spend the night preparing this pioneer dish."

Now you can see why it takes a whole weekend to celebrate the stew, because it takes a good day or rather night to make it.

To see the schedule of events and more visit their facebook page: LaSalle County Burgoo Festival here.

I have been here several times and it's always a good time and it's something different to do too.

If you have time and no plans this weekend, I encourage you to go.