In 2015, we purchased a small pop-up tent trailer and decided to hit the weekend roads in California. We took that little camper all over the place, from the mountain lakes to the coast. We visited fancy full hookup sites adjacent to wineries and we dry camped in state parks.

In 2018, we upgraded to a Jayco 145RB travel trailer – a tiny little box that our aging truck could just about pull. We’ve become quite spoiled in the new trailer, what with the air conditioning, hot water, flush toilet and comfy bed. However, one thing has remained constant, regardless of any new creature comforts: We love to cook outside.

We have honestly lost count of the number of RV parks we’ve visited where we are the only people outside at all – let alone the only people actually cooking outside on an open fire. We catch glimpses of other people through the windows of their massive mobile palaces, lying back on their leather recliners watching TV, and we wonder how far the definition of “camping” is being stretched.

So we sit outside (usually with a fine red wine), wait patiently for the flames to turn to embers in the fire pit, while enjoying each others conversation and company. Eventually, the fire is ready and we cook our evening meal over a bed of red hot coals. This process of relaxing by the fire while the sun goes down, waiting patiently for the fire to be ready, pouring another glass of wine and talking into the dark can often take hours. Good cooking and great conversation is not something you can just rush through.

We try to steer away from the traditional campfire hot dogs, burgers and barbecued meats, instead opting for something a little different, usually cooked in the cast iron. And trust me – a couple of buttery New York strips sauteed with mushrooms and onions, paired with steamed vegetables, roasted rosemary potatoes and a killer Cabernet is well worth it – especially at ten o’clock at night.

Two more things:

Our son is vegan, and when he camps with us, we cook vegan. It’s actually easier (and tastier) than it sounds, and we’re not at all averse to a little vegan cuisine ourselves. Keep an eye out for vegan recipes scattered about this blog!

The new camper has a microwave oven in it. We have never used it, not even once.