Mulligan stew facts for kids

Mulligan stew, also known as Hobo stew, is a type of stew that was often made by American hobos in their camps during the early 1900s. Hobos were people who traveled around looking for work, especially during tough economic times like the Great Depression.

Preparing Mulligan stew at the Hotel de Gink

Sometimes, mulligan stew was called "community stew." This was a stew made by several homeless people who would combine whatever food they had or could find. These community stews were often cooked at "hobo jungles," which were campsites used by traveling workers. They were also made at events designed to help people without homes.

What is Mulligan Stew?

Mulligan stew is generally known as a stew made from whatever ingredients are available. It's a dish that uses "odds and ends" rather than specific recipes.

In the early 1900s, newspapers described how mulligan stew was made. A group of five or six hobos would work together. One person would start a fire and find a can to cook in. Others would try to find ingredients like meat, potatoes, bread, onions, salt, and pepper. All the ingredients would be put into the can and boiled until cooked.

A "beggar stew" was a type of mulligan stew that did not include any meat.

Main Ingredients

The name "Mulligan" is a common nickname for an Irishman. Mulligan stew is like a simple Irish stew that includes meat, potatoes, and vegetables. However, it also includes anything else that could be found, traded for, or gathered.

For example, in the Appalachian region, a similar dish called a burgoo might include ingredients like possum or squirrel if those were available. To make the stew, all you needed was a pot and a fire. The hobo who prepared the stew was often called the "mulligan mixer."

During the Great Depression, many people were homeless and traveled by train. They would often gather in "hobo jungles," which were campsites near railway lines. At these camps, there would usually be a large campfire and a shared pot. Each person would add some of their food to the pot. This created a shared meal that was often more flavorful and varied than what they could eat alone. After eating, people would often share stories and spend time together.

Mulligan Stew in Stories and Songs

Mulligan stew has appeared in many books, songs, and TV shows. It often represents a simple, shared meal.

In Books

• In Louis Sachar's book Wayside School is Falling Down, mulligan stew is mentioned.
• In Shel Silverstein's poem "Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too", a character serves "coffee and mulligan stew."
• In George R.R. Martin's book series A Song of Ice and Fire, a similar communal stew called "Bowl of Brown" is eaten by poor people.

In Music

• The song "The Lady Is a Tramp" by Rodgers and Hart (from 1937) includes the line: "I've wined and dined on Mulligan Stew, and never wished for turkey."
• Mark Knopfler's song "Old Pigweed" describes a mulligan stew being made.
• Tom Waits mentions mulligan stew in his songs "Jitterbug Boy" and "Whistlin Past the Graveyard."
• Elvis Presley's version of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" ends with the line: "If those animals ever get out of line, we'll have a Mulligan stew!"

On Television

• In The Abbott and Costello Show, the characters meet hobos who are making mulligan stew.
• On The Andy Griffith Show, a hobo tells Opie and his friends he is having mulligan stew.
• In the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Earshot," a character wonders what mulligan stew is.
• In Criminal Minds, homeless men invite characters to share a bowl of mulligan stew.
• On The Rifleman and Rawhide, mulligan stew is mentioned, even though these shows are set before the stew became widely known.