Brooklyn Park’s Palmer Lake VFW Dishes Up “Booya”

Palmer Lake VFW in Brooklyn Park dishes up 200 gallons of a smoky, thick stew called “Booya.”

“There’s always a little secret in everybody’s Booya every year,” said Dave Thompson, who helps make the Booya. “If I told you what it was it wouldn’t be a secret.”

Thompson leads the effort to make the 200 gallon batch of Booya each year. He uses his grandfather’s recipe.

“My grandfather made Booya with his American Legion friends every fall,” said Thompson. He says the grandkids would always help with the thick stew, often peeling skins off carrots or potatoes. “All the kids would be working away.”

The ingredients from Booya change with each batch, depending on which vegetables are donated. All the ingredients are donated by different people and organizations. “There’s really not a penny out of pocket to do this,” says Thompson.

After volunteers cut up all the vegetables, they begin cooking the batch at noon on Friday in Brooklyn Park. By noon on Saturday, the Booya will be ready to dish up. You can buy it by the bowlful or bucket-full.

Booya Fundraiser helps Brooklyn Park’s Palmer Lake VFW

Money raised goes to veteran causes important to the Palmer Lake VFW.

This year’s fundraiser will be on October 12 starting at noon. If the weather is too crummy, Thompson says volunteers will deliver the goods to your car.

To learn more about the Palmer Lake VFW, click here.

Brooklyn Park