pawlet game supper 2011 -roundup

My in-laws were at the Pawlet Game Supper two weeks ago (home turf) and took some pics as we could not make it. Again, this is a community style supper put on by, and for, the volunteer fire department of the town of Pawlet, Vermont. It is held on the first day of deer season and features the trinity of bear, deer, and moose (with chicken pot pie rounding out) and squash, pies and lots of cheddar cheese. It is pretty much a belt buster. Long tables and a wait to get in create a great atmosphere. We make it every other year; last year did the double bill and hit the fireman's breakfast the next day 2 towns over...

Anyhow here is the round up from November 12, 2011. Thx Mike.

The fantastic Mach's store in Pawlet almost got washed away by Irene in September. If you visit, you can look down through the overhang (featured below) and see the river (Flower Brook) going underneath.

Waiting in line at 6-7pm on a Vermont November is not a joke. Not too bad this year looks like.


Each table gets macaroni salad, pickles, rolls and butter, and a plate of cubed cheddar.



Rug rats and Libble D hats. The wool count pretty high as well.


THAT is what I am talking about. Paging Wm. Brown... Venison meatloaf? Yup.


Yes that is a Ball-wine-glass. You can get yours here.


A slice of Americana. Or go crazy as below. The joke is; the supper is free -you pay $12 for a slice of pie.

pawlet game supper -nov 12th

The Game Supper is on. Saturday November 12th, 2011

The famous Pawlet Game Supper, will return to the firehouse (155 Route 133, Pawlet VT). Recently got to try elk (smooth as butter) but look forward to this stew-based freezer cleanout too. See our past coverage of the supper here and here. Plus it is a mindmelting view driving through the Mettowee Valley from Dorset to Pawlet around 5pm. Autumnal sundown. Fantastic.

Folks come from near, far, and even from deer camp for this event for good reason: it's a time-honored Vermont tradition, a great meal, and a fun time. The game will include bear, deer, and moose, and as always there will be an array of delicious side dishes and pies of all types baked by your friends and neighbors. All proceeds benefit the volunteer fire department, helping us provide emergency response for Pawlet and surrounding communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We begin serving at 5pm. Hope to see you there!

Interested in donating meat or doing some cooking for the game supper? Please get in touch!

pawlet supper 2010 -recap

The good photos are by a cousin, the crunched ones are mine... Saturday night was a great community event, the village of Pawlet's game supper to benefit the volunteer fire dept. You see a) the same people each year but b) also see people you haven't seen in years. Good stuff.

It falls on the first day of deer season so the crowd often still geared up from a day in the woods. I didn't go out but great excuse to wear wool pants for the inevitable short wait outside the firehouse. If you are going to wear a blaze hat, this is the day. Keeps your head on your shoulders.

Hey there's my ma-in-law. Save us a table! She did. Dinner served at 5pm, this is now 4:30. They weren't first in line...





The joke goes; the dinner is free, the $12 ticket is for the pie...
It is quite the operation. With 14 ten tops, and at least 3 seatings we figure they serve almost 500 people. That is a lot of moose(meat)balls.

Wilbur and Mrs. Quailfarm. You probably recognized them from the Peru Fair... Other guy saying; they gave me this much venison meatloaf! Was killer.

Heaped plate. Belt busting. Bowls of pickles, cheddar cheese and a wild rice/cranberry salad on the table. Chicken and biscuits were unnecessary haha. Think this is the only time Pops has worn a hat at the table.


So what now? Well you head home and lay on the floor practically comatose for an hour or so...

Next morning? Double header baby. Hit the Manchester VT (couple town's over) fireman's breakfast. You know it... Plus it featured the missing brother from our table; MFD's 2010 firefighter of the year working the egg station. Yeah Andy.




They even had Frank's hot sauce for the eggs. $7 well spent.

pawlet game supper -nov 13 2010

On November 13, 2010 be in Pawlet VT. The Annual Wild Game & Chicken Pie Supper. Menu is bear roast, venison roast, venison stew, mooseballs [like meatballs made out of... -ed.], chicken pie and vegetable, salad, homemade pies [yes w/ cheddar -ed.] and beverages. Doors open at 5 p.m. At the Pawlet Firehouse, 155 Rte. 133... you'll see the crowd, you can't miss it. Adults $12.00, under 12 $6.00. Need more info? 802-325-3495. (Read about 2008's dinner here.)

These things have a habit of disappearing right when you start to count on them... but this will be the 42nd supper hosted by the volunteer fire dept of Pawlet to raise funds. The drive from Manchester/Dorset over the flats to Pawlet is a stunner and by 4:30 the sun may be going down; cue sunset drive. Temp will dip though as you wait in line to get in; dress properly.



JacShirt: Johnson Woolen Mills; mine.
Shirt: Levi's olive flannel. In reality I only have 1 plaid flannel (wife's grandfather's) but like that chambray necklining there...
Vest: Johnson Woolen Mills, Japan-only makeup.
Nov 13th is opening day meaning first day of deer hunting in VT. Do not go for an early morning stroll w/o a blaze hat. Maybe forego the dawn/dusk strolls for a while actually.
Gloves: Brookville, Burly Bear. Gets cold waiting in line for 5 o'clock hence some old school Wathen's as backup.
Jeans: Jean Shop, Rocker. Been trying to bust these for the DenimeDebate.
Socks from the Vermont Country Store and boots from Maine.

If you get there way early, head into Mach's General Store in Pawlet and let the kids look down the viewing grate in the floor onto the (seasonably iced) waterfall.

sugaring -coming soon

Below are images from Neil Rappaport's "visual census" of Pawlet VT taken in the 1980's. Much more information at the Vermont Folklife Center. These recently became the basis for a photo essay, Messages from a Small Town: Photographs Inside Pawlet, Vermont featuring Susan Rappaport's oral history work in the area. Priceless. Recently started a class in oral history as part of my librarian degree, and one of my fellow students is closely related to this project, literally. The baby in the cover photo below is her cousin.



BERNIE LURVEY, FLOYD SHELDON

BILL MCLELLAN

CHESTER and LENORA CLARK

Visiting a sugarshack or sugarhouse is a great event. Either learn the process with the kids, or go late night and help stoke the fire -get into it with the owner over a few.

pawlet game supper -update

4.59pm. Line starts to form.


In the door, first sitting.


Bingo. Not f'in around.

Chedddar goes with apple pie. What the hell... cheddar goes with everything!


Last weekend was the game supper in Pawlet, Vermont. I missed it (doing this instead, which was very worthwhile) but family was there and took some shots. Thanks Mike.

"In the venison and moose stews, nearly 30 pounds of meat was used. Another 120 pounds of meat was ground to make the meatballs and sausages. The roasted meats — bear, venison and moose — totaled 60 pounds. Most of the free-range meats are donated by hunters for the dinner, but some does come courtesy of the game warden."
Via a very slow link to the Rutland Herald.

pawlet game supper this saturday

Chicken pie and wild game to be served at the 40th Pawlet Game Supper.

Via the Manchester Journal. "Enjoy a taste of the wild and the not so wild at the 40th Annual Chicken Pie and Wild Game Supper at the Pawlet Firehouse on Saturday, Nov. 15. The firehouse is located on Rte. 133 in Pawlet. Serving starts at 5pm and the line forms quick."

The menu is bear roast, moose meatballs, venison sausage, venison stew, venison roast and chicken pie. There will also be vegetable salads, mashed potatoes and homemade pie for dessert. $12 for adults, $6 children under 12. If that isn't clear enough call Ellen at 325-3495.

Tip from us... it is BYOB so bring the cooler. You can also make like our smart (in point of fact they are rocket scientists...) cousins and bring a tupperware, buy 2 dinners and take one home. It is long tables and communal seating. Awesome.

The drive along Route 30 from Manchester/Dorset to Pawlet is fantastic, a big valley floor and dairy farms. Pic below from flickr, courtesy of tballred9873.