Inuvik (Apr 18/03) - The hungry masses at Muskrat Jamboree didn't stay hungry for long, thanks to a row of tent frames serving up hot grub all weekend long on the frozen river.

Whether fast food or slow-cooked, the crowds had quite a choice in festival fare to choose from.

The Anglican Church served up Don Baryluk's ever-popular caribou burgers at the Muskrat Jamboree. The group sold about 700 of the homemade burgers over the weekend. Here, Baryluk, left, and Bob Heath work the grills. - NNSL photos

The Free Masons set up a tent to serve shaved muskox and beef on a bun, but Mason Mario Lemieux said the beverage was the hook.

"The big deal was the root beer," Lemieux said.

"Beer and a bun was the thing."

They also offered chili and hamburgers and had a very successful weekend for their first time out.

"This was the maiden voyage," he laughed.

"Lots of room for improvement."

The Anglican Church was on site for its sixth year, offering Don Baryluk's caribou burgers.

Chief cook Bob Heath said the church had a "stunning" weekend with a steady flow of customers throughout the jamboree.

"We had about 750 caribou burgers made and we have about 100 left," Heath said.

The Christian cooks came better prepared this year, after a storm nearly shut them out last year.

"After the blizzard last year, we went to a tent frame this year and it's been much better," Heath said. "It's been steady the whole time."

For more traditional fare, folks could fill up on favourites from the land at Joyce Roger's tent.

"I have been selling caribou soup, Eskimo donuts and muskrats," Rogers offers.

She prepares the 'rats boiled or roasted and people seemed to like them done both ways.

"We had lots of tourists this year and they all really enjoyed it," she said.

The jamboree kicked off with a sumptuous feast with caribou, muskrat and muskox prepared a few different ways.

Early risers were treated to sourdough pancakes at the Ingamo Hall breakfast on Saturday and blueberry pancakes on Sunday.