Upon my arrival at the Gilroy Dispatch eight months ago, there
were a few things of which I was immediately informed.
More often than not, the annual Crab Cioppino Feed, Dance and
Auction was near the top of the list.
Upon my arrival at the Gilroy Dispatch eight months ago, there were a few things of which I was immediately informed.
More often than not, the annual Crab Cioppino Feed, Dance and Auction was near the top of the list.
Organized by the Gilroy High School Athletic Association, the chow-down extravaganza plays an integral role in raising money for the transportation of the school’s athletes to and from games.
The family-style buffet is celebrating its 30th anniversary May 8, and doesn’t appear to be losing “steam” either.
“It was started because some schools added fees to athletes to ride buses, and this was 30 years ago,” long-time GHS fixture and former wrestling coach, among other titles, Chuck Ogle said. “Because of the social and economic situation in Gilroy, if we charged kids another $50 to $100 for bus fees, a lot of kids would not be able to participate. That was the reason why this was started. It was to defray, and back then it covered all expenses.”
Ogle has been lending a helping hand at the crab feed for 29 of the 30 years.
Thirty years ago, then-Gilroy High principal Ernie Zermeno, approached the coaches on staff, among them was Sal Tomasello, and suggested they check out the Portuguese crab cioppino feed, and if they liked it, why not throw one of their own.
Needless to say, they liked it.
First of all, with sports programs constantly on the brink of budget concerns, any charity event focused toward high school sports is an automatic touchdown in my book.
Along with the major monetary vitality of the event, next to the Garlic Festival, the Crab Feed is the largest gathering of Gilroyans in one place.
“It’s the second largest party in Gilroy,” said Tomasello, who served as the school’s athletic director from 1984-2000 and is now the principal at Solorsano Middle School. “After the first couple of years, after we ironed out the kinks, we really believed that this would be an annual event that was not only going to generate money for athletic transportation, but it was the camaraderie that was established with our parents and the community at large.”
The congregation of neighbors, friends and family carries a richly important small-town significance that should be applauded. Whenever a community rallies together, even if they are coerced by a delicious meal prepared by Carl Swank and his 35-plus volunteers, it holds a special meaning only the residents can comprehend.
Instead of breaking bread – well, there is some of that too – people are breaking succulent crab legs in fellowship with one another.
“(The community) really supports it,” said Swank owner of Gilroy Tire, who has been in charge of “getting the food to the table” for the past 15 years.
Swank divvies up the cooking responsibilities, delegating jobs from preparing the salad to the dish-washing crew.
“The friendship and fellowship that is developed makes it all worth while,” Swank said. “It’s a lot of work, but it makes for a very nice event.”
And, I love crab cioppino.
For decades, my family has served crab cioppino for dinner on Christmas Eve, a recipe handed down from my great-grandfather, which my dad now perfects every year.
Rule No. 1; never wear white to a Christmas Eve dinner. It never fails, if you are wearing white you will be hit with crab shrapnel or minute specks of sauce, which could be seen as a badge of honor for the pounds of crab that you just devoured.
I won’t be wearing white to this year’s all-you-can-eat feed, which includes, of course, the cioppino, garlic bread and salad at Christopher Ranch, but I will probably be sporting a sweet looking bib.
“There are some people that will eat until you have to carry them out to the car. It’s amazing to see these small, little ladies eat crab for two hours straight,” Ogle said.
GHS athletic director Jack Daley said that 2,800 pounds of crab has been ordered for the feed. Eating lunch that day is completely out of the question.
May 8 is just nine days away. But have no fear; there is still plenty of time to get your tickets.
Music will be provided by The Cruzers.
Food is served promptly at 5:30 p.m.
