Customer Reviews

Cooking the One Burner Way: Gourmet Cuisine for the Backcountry Chef

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love this book. Great and simple recipes that result in great tasting food, great overview of the process, and great spirit. My family gave this to me for my birthday a couple of years ago so I would make something edible on our camping trips. Bland carbs are fine for me, but my wife is half Italian and that means she wants to ENJOY her food. The book sat for months and then one day I caved to the pressure to help with dinner at home by pulling out this book. Unlike your typical cook book, these recipes looked quite approachable, and there is a lot of fudge-factor because it is designed to be used on a camping trip, i.e., less risk. Boom; it worked. It was fun and adventurous. The apex was cooking my own turkey-jerky, somehow making me feel like Clint Eastwood, James Bond and Jerimiah Johnson all at once. Most importantly, it all checked out in the outback. Last weekend, for example, we backpacked for a couple days at Mammoth Cave National Park and my family ate Spanish Rice prepared under a tarp in the rain, delicious pancakes, incredible pizza, and on our last day we hiked out having been fueled by beautiful cinnimon roles made with yeast. Am I a man or what? I was surprised to see this book panned by a couple of other reviewers when I went to get the link for a friend, so I have now written what I think is my first Amazon review. Perhaps this book needs an open mind, which I think you need for rewarding camping. I actually first thought the book was not comprehensive enough, but have come to believe that it is a great treatment in a digestible (haw haw) form; not too overwhelming. It goes from very simple to somewhat intense, letting you choose. Somebody said they were looking for "dodgers." I bet the "Quest Bread" is actually the dodgers they were looking for, but with a more inspired name. Overall, this book strikes me as a great combination of simplicity, accessibility, creativity, usefulness, and fun.

I found this book very good. One of the best recipes is the pizza. It may be hard to believe you can make GOOD pizza in the bush, but I have cooked it numerous times for my family, and they ask for it everytime we camp out. The dessert recipes have been good as well. This is a good book for someone like me that is just learning how to cook good food out of what you carry on your back.

Probably some great recipies for anyone looking to feast in the wild, but I was looking for some basic one burner meals.

Was highly disapointed after reading the recipes in Backpacker Magazine and then not finding them, nor similar items in the book. I was impressed with and interested in hardtack and corn dodgers, which neither one appears in the book. Also, a more complete title of the book includes "Gourmet Cuisine", had I known that at the time I probably would not have orderd it. I just want to get by with the basics and do not care about a five star meal. I eat to live , not live to eat. James

What you need to know is I LOVE THIS BOOK! I have quite a few cook books and none compare to this one. I use this at home as well as in the field. The amazing thing about this book is that it has something for EVERYONE...if you are a great cook already but need to know how much 'dry goods' and how to plan for a long trip in the outback, this has it. If you want to know about equipment...it has it. If you don't know how to set up or tear down camp, it has it. If you DON'T know how to cook, it breaks it down simply so that you're not overwhelmed with cooking jargon (which again it breaks down cooking jargon!). It is as simple and as complex as you want it or need it to be. Quite simply one of the best books ever written.....there is even humor strewn throughout it...not dry step by step only. ALL OF THIS AND IT IS A TINY ...TINY light book, again great for taking in the back woods with you for reference. When weight is at a premium people are doing crazy things like cuting their spoons and forks in half to save weight...this is a very light and small book. BUY IT, you'll love it like I do.