Blaze your own trail and bring an appetite—campfire meals are half the journey.
By Matthew Ross
It seems to be the constant. From camping trips to Killarney as a kid to weekends at the cottage. From tree planting in the far north to overlanding across the country. The best days always seem to end up with friends and family around the campfire. Stories get a bit further from the truth, laughter gets a little louder. And the food? Somehow it just tastes better.
They say that all house parties end up in the kitchen. The same, I think, can be said about adventuring in Ontario. As far as backyards go, it’s pretty hard to beat. And cooking over an open flame? Impossible to top. It takes us to a simpler place. No televisions, no digital distractions. It’s basic. Instinctual.
Overlanding, or vehicle-based travel, has become increasingly popular over the last few years. For me, it means throwing a bunch of gear in the back of my Jeep and heading out for a few days of fishing, camping, and exploring backroads. This movement is getting more people outdoors, exploring harder-to-access areas, and most importantly, it’s reconnecting people to nature—one smoky meal at a time.
The Joy of Cooking (Simply)
The key to successful campfire cooking is to keep things simple. I recommend investing in some cast-iron cookware. It’s virtually indestructible, and as you’re not hauling it around all day in a backpack, the weight doesn’t matter. On the fire, a cast iron pan or pot has no parts that will melt and no Teflon that will peel. Moreover, over coals, a thick iron base will spread heat evenly to the food.
Remember, campfire cooking is not the time for culinary acrobatics. Stick to simple recipes, minimal ingredients, and a handful of spices. The campfire itself adds a smoky richness to all your food. The less complicated the recipe, the more the meal becomes a chance to slow things down and connect as you prepare the food.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when preparing a meal from the back of a vehicle, prep space is limited, and you generally won’t have access to running water. The simpler a meal is, the fewer headaches you’ll have cooking and cleaning.
Close to the Land
Ontario is home to many incredible Farmers’ Markets and roadside stands offering up fresh produce, meats, and baked goods. It’s a great way to avoid lineups at the grocery store and support the businesses that cater to the areas you’re visiting.
There are also amazing cideries, breweries, and distilleries all over the area, making this an excellent opportunity to try some brands that you won’t find at the LCBO. Complement your next campfire meal with a newfound favourite beverage.
Camping is all about getting back to nature and returning to basics. Increasingly, we are less involved in what we eat. We buy more prepared foods. We spend far less time preparing meals for ourselves. Cooking over a campfire takes time; it’s more than just a meal, it’s an event.
Humourist Art Buchwald said it best: “Dinner is not what you do in the evening before something else. Dinner is the evening.”