Between noon and four p.m. this past Sunday, a bright yellow “First Student” school district bus made its circuitous route between downtown Steilacoom and Sunnyside Beach, transporting hungry diners to the 2016 Salmon Bake.
The complimentary bus ride was just one part of this annual beachfront gathering in the Town on the Sound, although many diners opted to walk to the Bake.
The yearly final-Sunday-in-July seafood picnic at the waterfront park attracted hundreds of residents and out-of-towners who participated in this popular Steilacoom Historical Museum Association community event/fundraiser that’s been held for about 40 years.
Veteran chefs Dennis Mulvaney and Craig Rehburg, plus John Weaver and a few new grillmen, presided over the cooking coals, while folks queued beneath the long, white picnic shelter to heap their plates with shrimp cocktail, sweet corn on the cob, perfectly-grilled salmon, tangy three-bean salad, bread and butter, cherry tomatoes, a choice of beverage—such as refreshing lavender lemonade—topped off with a slice of cherry, marionberry, peach, apple or blueberry pie for dessert—what a deal! For those who wanted an alternative, hot dogs also were available.
With live music in the background, a view of the MV Christine Anderson crossing Puget Sound, assorted kayakers skimming the inland waters, a variety of community-related booths to browse, as well as this superb meal to enjoy—what better way to spend the afternoon than at SHMA’s Salmon Bake?
(By day’s end it had unofficially been reported that around 900 meals—not counting hot dogs—had been served that afternoon).
“It’s a lot of work,” reflected long-time resident Milt Davidson, who’s worked many years at past Bakes.