Your goose is cooked
Here’s where to find goose meals in the area today
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LEWISTOWN -- When it comes to serving roast goose dinners on Goose Day, Tammy Lucci is expecting a big turnout while Lindsey Bachman isn't sure what sort of turnout to expect.
"We have 450 to 500 goose dinners, so we are pleased with that," said Lucci, manager at Sal-Lee's Dream in Lewistown. "Putting out that many dinners out in a day is a lot. We do a lot of take-out, too."
It might be a lot, but it's only one day annually. That happens to be today, which is Goose Day in the Juniata Valley. Legend has it that if you eat goose today, also known as Saint Michaelmas Day, that you will never want for money all-year round.
Local bars and restaurants add goose dinners to their menus, while others put their special spin on unique recipes using the lucky bird.
Come lunch and dinner time, Lucci and her restaurant staff will be ready for diners.
"It's more work and it takes days to prepare," Lucci said of preparations for today's Goose Day meals.
This year's numbers are down about 300 meals from last year.
"We couldn't get goose," she said. "It was kind of a debacle this year because it was hard to get."
They were able to buy 40 geese this year to serve to customers, compared to 65 last year.
Most of the meals sold in advance.
"We might have a few lingering," Lucci added of the goose meals, which come with stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, slaw, cranberry sauce and a dinner roll. A variety of homemade pies are also available, including mincemeat, pumpkin and apple.
Lucci's father, Leroy Peachey, who owns the restaurant, skinned and baked all the birds.
"He's 83 and he still takes care of all that," Lucci said.
First goose day
At Cora's Creekside Tavern in Burnham, Bachman, an assistant manager and bartender, is preparing for her very first Goose Day holiday. She said goose dinners include goose, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn and dinner roll, along with pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.
"We keep getting a lot of calls about it," Bachman said of customers' interest in eating goose for the holiday.
Wild and crazy time
At Michele's OIP and Pizzeria in Reedsville, a full course goose dinner is available from noon until it's sold out.
"It will be hectic, wild, crazy and stressful, but it's also challenging and fun at the same time," said owner and manager Michele Lasher.
Her dinners include goose, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn and a dinner roll.
"We slow roast them all night long," Lasher said of cooking the 28 geese. "It's the same as last year, but we had trouble finding them."
Lasher wasn't certain until recently that she could serve goose. She happened to be in the Pittsburgh area for a wedding and stumbled across a supply of geese at a grocery store.
She is also bringing in extra help for Goose Day. A former employee of 12 years is coming back after a brief absence.
"He calls himself the goose slayer," she said. "He said he wanted to come back because he really missed Goose Day."
Customers can enjoy goose noodle soup at the Square Café and Bakery in downtown Lewistown.
"We've done it for the past several years I've been open," said owner Kayla Zook. "It doesn't take as much goose and it's not as hands-on to make. We're still supporting the holiday."
Last year, Zook used four geese to make nine gallons of soup.
"It ran out in four hours," she recalled. "This year, we got six birds and we're hoping for 12 gallons."
She admits customers give her a quizzical look when the soup is offered.
"They're usually off for just a minute, but when they process it, they get it."
According to the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau's website, limited supplies of goose fare are also available at:
• Auxiliary of Decatur Fire Co., Lewistown: dinner
• Bread of Life Restaurant, McAlisterville: dinner
• County Line Inn Bar and Grill, Mount Union: dinner
• County Line Restaurant, Richfield: dinner
• Downtown OIP & Grille, Lewistown: goose-topped pizza and cookies
• Honey Creek Inn, Reedsville: dinner
• Hungry Run Wine Bar and Bistro, Lewistown: appetizers
• Juniata Junction Restaurant, Mifflintown: dinner or hot sandwich
• Kountry Kitchen, McVeytown: hot or cold sandwich or platter
• Red's Diner, Lewistown: dinner or sandwich
• Reedsville Fire Co., Reedsville: dinner
• Seven Mountain Wine Bar and Stonefly Care, Reedsville: stew