Recently, retired San Juan
County Sheriff, Cal Dean Black, found himself on the other side of the
interrogation table, and having his mug shot taken as well. “Alright Black, give us the goods on this
catering business, and no holding back on the sauce.”
As Cal’s daughters, Alyssa
and Sierra are learning from their daddy, Cal learned the art of Dutch oven
cooking from his beloved father, Arvid Black.
Arvid enjoyed cooking up ribeye steaks and chicken for friends and
family; teaching Cal the correct type of fire to maintain, tools of the trade
and care of the pots. After Arvid’s
passing and Cal’s retirement, it seemed a natural progression to go from a fun
side to a complete, full course menu.
Before continuing with the
historical birth of Custom Catering, a little historical backdrop on Dutch
ovens has a necessary place here. In the
Nederlands (that is how the people there spell it; in America though, it is
spelled Netherlands), a Dutch oven (braadpan) is a frying or roasting pan;
closely resembling a heavy lidded pot that is normally used on the stove top,
or in an oven to make casseroles.
Originally these cooking vessels were created in the 17th
century and cast of brass; sand used around the molds to produce a high quality
pot with a smooth surface.
In 1707, Englishman
Abraham Darby, after studying the casting process in the Nederlands, returned
to England with the intent of producing pots cast from iron with molds using
loam and clay. The end product was
cheaper to produce, therefore, more economical to the public, but yielding the
same cooking end results. English brought the Dutch oven to the colonies of the
United States; prized possession, used by pioneers, homesteaders, miners, and
ranchers in the southwest; yada, yada, yada and now back to Custom Catering’s
history.
“Cal Dean Black, why’d you
do it!?!” the suspect was asked, while his daughters giggled in the background. While he was a sheriff, catering small
groups, like his father had done, was all Cal was able to handle. After retirement, taking on this business
venture was not a way to simply keep busy, this was a labor of love which would
keep the memory of Arvid Black alive.
Cal expanded the menu to include marinated and grilled chicken,
marinated brisket cooked in a savory barbecue sauce, grilled pork loin, Dutch
oven potatoes, barbeque and desserts.
“We can do up just about anything; locations indoors or outdoors; groups
as large as 500 hungry people.” A couple
of Cal’s favorite events is the Jeep Jamboree in Ouray, Colorado and the
Sportsmen for Fishing and Wildlife Banquet; both events hitting the almost 500
persons mark. Cooking outdoors, especially
for such a crowd, can be a challenge; Cal has a trailer with generator that
helps greatly to overcome. Weddings,
reunions (family and school related), award banquets, sports events; in the
mountains, canyons, deserts, conference halls, large to small; Cal will make
the meal to wow.  |
| Dutch Oven Potatoes. |
 |
| Brisket Simmering in a Savory Barbecue Sauce. |
His wife, Kay Lynn, does
up the desserts, like a chocolate Texas sheet cake with chocolate frosting;
warmed up to help a scoop of vanilla ice cream drape over it. Then there is her special white sheet cake
with a topping comprised of lemon pudding, whipping topping and cream cheese;
garnished with peaches and berries.
Cal’s assistants are
Alyssa who likes when there are leftovers, but loves mom’s sheet cake the
best. Sierra does not have much to say,
but says it all in four simple words, “The food is good!”
Interested in having a
personal or business event catered, give Cal Dean Black a call at: (435)
979-2125.
