The Brunswick Stew

I've worked with a number of a great people over the years. Thanks to the internet and social media, I'm still in touch with a great many of them. One of the best was Bill. He owns a small company where I worked twice; once in the mid-90's, and then again in the early 2000's.

Bill is a guy with a great sense of humor. I recall on the day he hired me – he started out with a pretty straight forward interview...asking a few questions about my skills and experience. After a time, he paused looking out the window, and then turned to me and asked, “Can you cuss and drink coffee?” I responded affirmatively and was hired on the spot.

Although Bill is extremely knowledgeable in his field and possesses determination and a work ethic like few I have ever known, it was often difficult to get a straight answer from him...due to the fact that he seems to get great pleasure from messing with people. Case in point: the Brunswick stew recipe.

The first summer I worked for Bill, he made an enormous pot of Brunswick stew at the company picnic. It was amazing, and I immediately asked if he would share the recipe...but he declined. During my second tenure of employment with him, I tried again to get the recipe – but was turned down again. Over the next ten or so years, I would periodically touch base with Bill via email and ask for the recipe...always being turned away, but figuring maybe one day persistence could pay off. In February of 2011, I asked once again for the recipe, and received the following response....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An Indian and his son are sitting by their campfire.

The son asked, "Father, how do Indians get their names?"

The father says, "When the mother is in the teepee giving birth, and the father hears the baby's cry, the first thing he sees will be the name of the child. Our tribe has Running Brook, Soaring Eagle, Fallen Leaf, Prancing Fawn, and Black Crow."

The son thinks a minute and says quietly, "Oh, I see."

The father says, "Why do you ask this, Two-Dogs-Fucking?"

So, my question to you is, why do you ask this, Two-Dogs-Fucking?

Are you doing something personal or public? Private or passed to someone else? Commercial or in the secrecy of your own kitchen?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After I assured him it was for personal use only – he finally shared the recipe. I still haven't made it yet...as it calls for 23 lbs of chicken and a 12 gallon stock pot...but having it feels like victory. I guess persistence does pay off.