Booyah – What It Is And Where To Get It

Booyah. File photo.

Booyah is a hearty stew of Belgian origin that is popular at church picnics, festivals and other communal gatherings in Southern Door County – where there’s a large Belgian population – and in places throughout Northeastern Wisconsin. Traditionally prepared outdoors in large kettles over a wood fire, booyah ingredients include chicken, sometimes beef, and a variety of vegetables. It’s a slow cooking process – the longer it simmers, the more the ingredients merge and the better it tastes. 

There is debate over the origin of the name “booyah.” Some assume it is a version of the French word, “bouillon,” while others believe it comes from the word “bouyu,” from Walloon – a language spoken in southern Belgium. In the 1850s, many Walloon-speaking Belgians settled between Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay. 

The Belgian Heritage Center in Brussels will host a Booyah & Bread lunch on April 21 from 11 am – 1 pm. The menu will include chicken booyah, bread, desserts and a beverage. The cost is $12 for adults, $8 for children ages 4 – 12 and free for children 3 or under. Takeout booyah will be sold for $10 per quart starting at noon. All proceeds of the event will benefit the Belgian Heritage Center in its mission to preserve and promote the Belgian settlement area’s unique culture, history and architecture. 

The Belgian Heritage Center is located at 1255 Cty Hwy DK in Brussels.