Burgoo stew is as much a Kentucky tradition as the derby, mint juleps and fancy hats.
And all will be in abundance at the seventh annual Derby Day on May 3 at the Fox Tucson Theatre.
"It's going to be a fun event," said Debbie Tingley, Café 54's catering manager.
The restaurant will cater a Southern-style spread of vegan ratatouille, garlic cheese grits, cornbread, a mixed green salad and hot browns (meat with gravy over the top). The noshing starts with a Benedictine Dip served with crudités and crostini. There are pecan pie bars for dessert.
Never heard of Burgoo?
It's a savory stew made from different types of meats and vegetables, cooked for several hours — traditionally in enormous iron kettles outdoors over an open flame. There are many ways to make it (one recipe from the 1850s, for example, calls for a dozen squirrels for every 100 gallons of stew).
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Downtown's Café 54 helps those living with mental illness
Café 54 is a full-service bistro and award-winning training program for people living with mental illness.
The cafe opened at 54 E. Pennington St. in the summer of 2004. It's open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.
Check out the Web site for daily specials (www.cafe54.org). One of today's specials, for example, is Mediterranean beef salad — marinated beef tenders, artichokes, grilled asparagus, roasted tomatoes, olives, feta cheese on a bed of organic mixed greens drizzled with lemon oil and balsamic reduction for $8. Desserts include peanut butter mousse tart with chocolate ganache for $3.
Café 54 also serves lunch at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. seven days a week through May 31.
The cafe will serve food every Thursday evening from June 5 through Aug. 28. For catering, call 622-1907.
Derby Day benefits Codac Behavioral Health Services
Watch the Kentucky Derby May 3 on the big screen and enjoy traditional Southern fare catered by Café 54. There's also a ladies hat parade and competition, raffle and open bar with wine, beer and mint juleps.
Last year more than 125 people gathered at McMahon's Prime Steakhouse.
This year the fundraiser will be held at the historic Fox Tucson Theatre.
"We're really excited to watch the derby on the big screen," said Ayla Gilbert, Codac's community and public relations coordinator .
And while you don't have to wear a hat, a lot of women do — and it's a lot of fun, says Gilbert, who's hosting a hat-making party with friends in advance of Saturday's event.
If you go
• When: 2-5 p.m. May 3.
• Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.
• Cost: $100 (about 80 percent is tax deductible).
• Benefits: Codac Behavioral Health Services' program for children and adolescents.
Café 54 created the recipe below for Derby Day.
Derby Day Burgoo Stew
• 1 pound mixed cooked meats (beef, lamb, pork, chicken, etc.)
• 1/2 gallon chicken stock
• 1/2 gallon beef stock
• 1 ounce Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 small green bell pepper, diced
• 1 large potato, diced
• 2 large carrots, diced
• 1/4 cup peas
• 1/2 cup okra
• 1/4 cup lima beans
• 1/2 cup yellow corn
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for two hours, skimming the top as needed.
Serves eight to 10 as a main course.
