What's Happening in Olympia, WA…

Droves of visitors were lured to Lacey over the Fourth of July holiday to attend the 4th annual South Sound BBQ Festival.

A number of local restaurants took the opportunity to serve ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and other edible fare. Once they had the attention of attendees, they could provide them with flyer printing of their menu highlights.

Smokers were set up all around Huntamer Park, cooking various types of meat. Lucky Eagle Casino even took the opportunity to cook smoked salmon over the crackling logs of an open fire. Chef Kevin Bray said that the fish was seasoned with just salt and pepper; he told the Olympian that the smoke added a further element to the flavor, but that the draw was the simple, natural taste of the fish.

He also said that the smokers attract the interest of passersby, and that the event was a great way to reach out to the people for whom he was cooking across the Olympia area.

Amateurs chefs brought their cooking skills to the park as well; Alan and Molly Gruse of Lacey served beans as Yabba Dabba Q. This is the second year they have attended the festival as cooks. Molly Gruse admitted that her husband had little idea what he was doing during the previous year’s event, but they had so much fun that they decided to come back for another year.