COME ONE COME ALL!!!

9^th Annual Carson City Rendezvous Dutch oven Cook-off and D.O.G. June 13,14, &15

June 13, 14, and 15, 2008 are the official dates for the Carson City Rendezvous Dutch oven event in downtown Carson City, Nv. This event has been organized and run by David Herzog for the past eight years, making 2008 the ninth year this event has been part of Carson City’s annual celebration of the Pony Express. The Dutch oven D.O.G. and cook-off are the mainstays of the Dutch oven event. Dave and other Dutch oven cooks from all over the Western United States, also teach classes and do numerous Dutch oven demonstrations from seasoning and caring for cast iron to baking cheese cakes, making candy, and making ice cream.

The Carson City Rendezvous also features a mountain man camp and primitive merchant’s row, Civil War rein-actors, cowboy action shooters and stuntmen, Indian pow-wow and dances, all sorts of food, and live entertainment from far and wide. Last year The Comstock Cowboys, and Sourdough Slim, were the Headlining shows on the main stage. This is the 25^th year for the Rendezvous which gets bigger and bigger each year, with Michael Martin Murphy headlining on Friday night. Last years attendance for this free event was well over 23, 000 people. What a crowd to cook for, over 8,000 each day!

Last year the Dutch oven event had two wall tents and 6 pole tents erected around the cooking area. Wow, 2 huge Maca ovens at one event, all cooking food to be served to hungry spectators! Steve Karoly from Shingle Springs, Ca and Richard Smith from Campbell, Ca taught numerous classes on cooking various dishes and cast iron care. Dick Wild from Eureka, Ca is bringing his packing skills and demonstrating using pine cones as a heat source, and how to slow roast an orange glazed chicken. Smith’s Grocery has been the major sponsor for the Dutch oven event for the past seven years and we look forward to working with Smith’s again this year and years to come. We also have Sportsman’s Warehouse as a sponsor and booth supporter by bringing stocks f cast iron and accesories to get started in Dutch oven cooking. In the works for 2008 is the possibility of a sponsorship or booth support from the brand new Cabella’s store also in Reno, Nv

This year there are already 3 primitive wall tents and teams arriving for the weekend to help with the demos and enter the cook-off. Don Alt will be bringing back his Chuck Wagon and it looks like there will be at least one more chuck wagon also. Although the Rendezvous has “primitive” attractions the Dutch oven event is, by no means primitive in any sort. Camp Chef and Lodge have both shown their support by donating prizes, pamphlets and banners. We are in the continuing process of gathering more sponsors and donations for prizes, etc. The discussion of a Dutch oven ice cream cook-off is in the works also for some extra fun for all. For those who do not wish to compete in the cook-off on Sunday are invited to cook with us Saturday afternoon and share your creations at the D.O.G., which is a free event for al participants. There is an option to purchase a presale ticket for a 12 ounce slice of prime rib Saturday evening at the D.O.G. but you don’t need to purchase a ticket to partake in the potluck or cook. Tickets for the prime rib are available at the event and must be purchased by 1 p.m. Saturday at the event.

Also new for this year is a B.B.Q. Competition starting Friday afternoon with judging commencing at around 4 p.m. and tasting with the DOG at 6 p.m. Contact Dave for BBQ registration packets to enter. The fee is a modest $50.00 compared to sanctioned events which cost $300.00 and more. The winners have the possible valued prize to cook in the world famous J.A.'s Nugget rib competition in 2009. I say possible because logistics are still being worked out with the Nugget.

We welcome all IDOS and LSDOS members to join us this weekend for a grand event and Dutch oven party! If you’re not a member of one or both of these Dutch oven societies, You can join us without being a member! By the time you meet the Dutch oven cooks you’ll want to join one or both societies to have more fun than ever and learn more than you will use in a lifetime! There is plenty of room for everyone to pitch a tent or camp in their R.V. Please contact David Herzog or Maxine Neitz to reserve your space early since they are filling up and we need to coordinate the R.V.’s and trailers close by. Carson City Rendezvous is truly a family event for all ages and there will be many Dutch oven demonstrations, and classes offered throughout the weekend. The best part of this weekend is the cost to stay and camp with us! There is no fee! That’s right zero, zilch, nada! What a deal! If you must feel it is necessary to stay in a hotel or motel, please reserve your room now! Most likely by the end of April you will not be able to find a vacancy in Carson City on this weekend as rooms fill quickly. Like I mentioned before, there are more than 20,000 people who visit the Rendezvous over the 3 days. Now, is the time to make your plans to attend and show off your cooking skills.