Tri-Valley Sportman's Expo in Pleasanton, California

As I said a few weeks ago, I'm attending the Tri-Valley International Sportsman's Expo this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The ISE press release has the background information for the show.

The International Sportsman's Expositions in association with the International Dutch Oven Society is hosting Dutch oven cookoff and product demonstrations at the Alameda County Fairgrounds February 25 - 27, 2005.

SHOW HOURS:
Friday -- Noon to 7 p.m.
Saturday -- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday -- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TICKETS:
$10 for adults, available at the show. Youth 12 and under enter for FREE. Discount coupons available on the ISE website, in the newspaper or at Long's Drugs stores.

DIRECTIONS:
Coming from:

• San Francisco:Cross the Bay Bridge. Follow the sign to stay on I-580 East. When you come to I-680 go south (right), take the Bernal Exit and go East (to the right when you come off the ramp), turn left at Gate 8.
• San Jose:Take I-680 North. Take the Bernal Exit and go East (to the right when you come off the ramp), turn left at gate 8. To the Fairgrounds, turn a left on Valley Avenue. To the Administration office, stay on Bernal (Fairgrounds will be on your left), turn left at Pleasanton Avenue, the admin office will be on your left.
• Walnut Creek:Take I-680 South. Take the Bernal Exit and go East (to the right when you come off the ramp) turn left at gate 8.

Cooking Demonstrations

I don't have the precise Dutch oven demonstration schedule yet. I'll post it as soon as I receive it. Here's a representation of what to expect:

Introduction to Dutch oven cooking and cast iron care: Come learn what Dutch ovens are and how to use them. We will cover everything from manufacturing to cleaning them up after you're done cooking.

Dutch oven baking: Learn how to bake in your Dutch oven. From bread to the traditional fruit cobbler, we will cover baking tips and techniques.

Dutch oven stewing: Learn how to create delicious stews from the traditional beef stew to a tantalizing chili, we will cover the techniques to creating stewed dishes in the Dutch oven.

Dutch oven roasting: Learn the secrets to roasting in a cast iron Dutch oven as we demonstrate how to steam roast while we share tips about roasting all kinds of dished in these black pots.

Visit the IDOS Booth

If you live in the Bay Area or Central Valley please stop by and see us. We'll be located in the southeast corner of Exhibition Hall, next to the restrooms. It's a corner booth so you can't miss us.

The president of the International Dutch Oven Society, Clyde Miller is coming out from his home in from Roy, Utah to help promote Dutch oven cooking. Traveling with Clyde are brothers Dennis and Ron Hill and Bakin' Bill Johnson. Ron is the immediate past president of IDOS.

Bakin' Bill is a master of the cooking demonstration. I watched him in action at the 2004 Tri-Valley International Sportsman's Expo. Bill won't sell you anything other than an appreciation for the art of Dutch oven cooking.

I've asked Bill to bring his Dutch oven cooking portfolio. A graphic designer by trade, Bill's an accomplished photographer. In my book, he's the unofficial photographer of the Dutch Oven News -- the official newsletter of IDOS. His portfolio (actually a series of binders) is loaded with hundreds of vivid color photographs of Dutch oven dishes, including the winning dishes from several of the past World Championship cookoffs.

See you there ...