Hello Van People

skratt

Guest
Hi from me.
Just thought I'd introduce myself. Im a travelling chef and have been living in my Burstner van for nearly 5 years now. I usually travel up and down the Uk in summer and head to south europe in the winter. Cheffing is a lousy job but its great for travelling as most good restaurants and hotels are always looking for chefs.
I don't really use campsites unless I have to and am constantly thinking of new ideas to be as independant as possible in the van.
My main passion is paragliding. It adds an incentive to get somewhere when you know theres a mountain or a cliff to fly off when you arrive.
Im halfway through writing a cookbook for van dwellers. Mostly to try and get people to throw away theyre tinned soups and boil in the bag concoctions and replace with healthy, easy to cook, delicious recipes using fresh local ingredients available whilst travelling in UK and around Europe.
happy travels ! Skratt
 
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welcome

hi skratt welcome to the forum.
that should be a good book to have in the van , the wife would love it :lol-053:
 
Welcome to the mad house!

Look forward to sharing some recipes with you, my hubby is very much a "3 tin stew" man but I do try to cook some interesting foods and as local and fresh as poss-to me it's one of the pleasures of MHing.
 
Welcome to the forum can't wait to get copy to give wife, as kitchen is off limits . Cooking womens work!! ,Barbeque's my concern.
 
Hi Skratt,

Wellcome to the site.

Would be great to have a few good one pan meals from local produce but so many "chef" ones have six different fresh herbs. Six different spices, at least one off which is impossible to get hold of and a pint of fresh cream. Think of us simple folk when you write it.:)

Richard
 
yes thats right ...there are too many ingredients involved in a lot of recipes.
I have started off the book with a list of equipment needed ( pans, gadgets etc ) assuming that cooking will be done on 2 or three gas rings with no oven or grill. Then a list of essential ingredients like salt, herbs, spices, stock, rice, lentils etc to have on the van.
The recipes will be simple, quick, easy with restaurant standard results. Often using ingredients that can be easily picked from the wild.
I will not be using the standard recipe format that involves weighing and measuring unless really needed ..... mostly it will be a case of ... a handful of this, a dollop of that..... it saves on mess and also inspires chef-like confidence.
The book was my inspired by people who came round for dinner and couldnt believe I cooked it in the van in 15 minutes.
Should be finished soon.
cheers
 
Fantastic idea Skratt....So you're the guy who actually does go and jump off a cliff?
Have a great recipe for water mint pancakes and wild raspberries ...a breakfast from heaven!
 
thats sounds a great breakfast ... :tongue:

Yes Im just about to jump off one now at Freathy, Cornwall. Lovely view as you fly up and down the coast. Right next to a couple of good wild camp spots too.
 
skratt said:
yes thats right ...there are too many ingredients involved in a lot of recipes.
I have started off the book with a list of equipment needed ( pans, gadgets etc ) assuming that cooking will be done on 2 or three gas rings with no oven or grill. Then a list of essential ingredients like salt, herbs, spices, stock, rice, lentils etc to have on the van.
The recipes will be simple, quick, easy with restaurant standard results. Often using ingredients that can be easily picked from the wild.
I will not be using the standard recipe format that involves weighing and measuring unless really needed ..... mostly it will be a case of ... a handful of this, a dollop of that..... it saves on mess and also inspires chef-like confidence.
The book was my inspired by people who came round for dinner and couldnt believe I cooked it in the van in 15 minutes.
Should be finished soon.
cheers
Click to expand...

sounds like my type of cooking! put me down for a copy.
 
please can you finnish cook book before my holidays in august :cheers:
 
Someone after my own heart

skratt said:
yes thats right ...there are too many ingredients involved in a lot of recipes.
I have started off the book with a list of equipment needed ( pans, gadgets etc ) assuming that cooking will be done on 2 or three gas rings with no oven or grill. Then a list of essential ingredients like salt, herbs, spices, stock, rice, lentils etc to have on the van.
The recipes will be simple, quick, easy with restaurant standard results. Often using ingredients that can be easily picked from the wild.
I will not be using the standard recipe format that involves weighing and measuring unless really needed ..... mostly it will be a case of ... a handful of this, a dollop of that..... it saves on mess and also inspires chef-like confidence.
The book was my inspired by people who came round for dinner and couldnt believe I cooked it in the van in 15 minutes.
Should be finished soon.
cheers
Click to expand...

You should see my little stock cupboard in my home made camper - Citroen Berlingo Mulitspace - room for me and my dog! I always have a store of spices (chilli flakes, cumin, coriander, paprika etc) in tiny jars - the sort you get jam/mustard in gift packs. I have plastic pots with rice, flour, lentils, pasta, sugar, porridge oats (once made a kinda rhubarb crumble type thing from rhubarb growing on a site in Yorkshire) to name but a few items. The only thing I will get out of a tin is tomatoes, baked beans (very rare occasions), tuna and possibly tinned fruit. I wouldn't bat an eye lid at cooking up a spag bol from scratch, picking fresh mussels on a beach on Skye and making moules marinier, or picking wild garlic leaves to go with some tomatoes with a balsamic dressing served with chicken marinated in garlic, lemon and olive oil cooked on a BBQ :king:

Half the fun of being in my wee van is taking the time to cook, usually with a glass of wine at my side, whilst looking at a beautiful Scottish view. I have a friend who likes to have her tea by 6 at the latest, usually something out of a tin or two, which takes as little preparation as possible. Needless to say, if we go off together for a few days in our vans, we do not share meals. Any time you fancy a meal in ma wee van, feel free, am sure I could come up with a 3-course meal in an hour or less. Maybe you could put it in your cookbook :)
 
Hi Skratt

Can you include some good healthy recipies that only use one pan!! I manage to rest food and stick it back in the skillet, anything to cut down on washing up ( never have enough water onboard):tongue:
 
Hi Bewick lass. You sound like you have it sussed already. You are welcome to contribute with perhaps a scottish recipe and I will give you a mention and send you a copy.
Hi Teen, yes most of the recipes are healthy as I am a bit of a health freek myself. Theres plenty of veggie options that can convert even hardened carnivores. Quite a lot are one potters too.

Its a lovely day here in North Devon and Im going on a bass catching attempt.
Wild seabass fillets on mussel and wild sorrel risotto - ? Shame the Samphire has run out ...
 
and thanks for the invite Berwicklass ... I'll be up that way soon. :drive:
 
Hi Skratt

Very welcome anytime, however think my message may have misled you - am not in Scotland (just go there to wild camp), actually live in Northumberland - just as gorgeous in my mind and only a mere 25 mins from Scotland.

Will have a think what recipe to send you - off the top of my head, I have a very good chicken dish with white wine (you can drink the rest :cheers:) and creme fraiche. Will get back to you with that one - for now I have a teaching application to drop off.

P.S. Can you tell me how I can get a photo of my van on my profile? I have tried a couple of times to work it out, perhaps I'm just being thick!
 
to get a pic of your van on here just go to settings (top right ) then you will see on the left "my settings" and "edit avatar" go there and choose a file. That should do it.
cheers Skratt;)
 
copy of book

Hi Skratt

Have you finished your book yet? Would love a copy. Not very productive at cooking so hubby is saying "bring it on" :lol-053:

Patricia
 
Martin Dorey has already written "The campervan cookbook" but am sure there is room for another. Good luck with it.
 
Ive got Martin Dorey's cookbook. Its a good read and a few nice recipes. You can tell he's not a chef though. :D
Mine is coming from a different angle.
Its not just a recipe book, its more of a reference for van cooking with lots of ideas on how to get chef type results.
I've picked up many fast and quick tips after 30 years as a top chef in restaurants, on private yachts and on film sets often working in a limited space with limited ingredients, just like in a van.
How does the chef produce a michellin star standard, 4 course meal, on a yacht in the middle of the med in a tiny galley for guests paying 25000 dollars a day for the charter ?
All shall be revealed :tongue:
 
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