Wilderness Chef is a Cookbook to Read Cover-to-Cover

Ray Mears’ new cookbook, Wilderness Chef, is truly a fun read! At its heart, it’s about outdoor cooking, but it’s also the delightful culmination of Mears’ travels to remote, sometimes exotic locations, preparing food with and learning from people all around the globe. It’s not likely that I’ll ever find myself in the backwoods with everything I need in a pack or canoe like I did in my younger days, but thanks to Wilderness Chef: The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Outdoors by Ray Mears (Conway, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, July 2020), I’m reliving those happy memories—and I may even recreate some of the recipes in my kitchen or on my patio!

* Complimentary book received. This post contains affiliate links.

Mears doesn’t assume that the reader is already skilled in outdoor cooking, and goes into great detail describing the basic how-tos, including hygiene and cleanliness, tools, pans, techniques, and heat sources such as open fires, camp ovens, and ground ovens. Personally, I found all of this fascinating, as he discusses what is used in different parts of the world, and why. For example, in describing how to make Sticky Rice in a Bamboo Tube, Mears says, “When I am travelling in the rainforest with an abundance of bamboo, this is my go-to method for cooking sticky rice.” Not the sort of statement I come across in my everyday cookbooks, but something I certainly respect and celebrate.

The foods and techniques in Wilderness Chef cover everything from cooking eggs, apples, or sausages on a stick over a campfire, to complete gourmet meals, to baked goods, to drinks like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in Wilderness Chef:

• Steak in Embers
• Split-Stick Salmon
• Tipsy Trout
• Pita Bread
• Canoe Country Pancakes
• Mushroom Soup
• Venison Stroganoff
• Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
• Rendang Curry
• Spaghetti Carbonara
• Traditional Masala Chai – Indian Spiced Milk Tea

There are even recipes for omelettes, pizza, apple pie, and chocolate chip cookies! There’s definitely something for everyone. With this book as your guide, you and your companions will not be lacking for delicious foods to nourish you and enhance your enjoyment of your time spent in the outdoors.

The many photographs in Wilderness Chef will have your mouth watering and your soul longing for the solitude of the outdoors, and it’s worth noting that Mears himself is the photographer. Wilderness Chef is a beautiful book, and it would be a most welcome gift for anyone you know who enjoys camping and cooking in the great outdoors.

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Giveaway: Not one but TWO lucky winners will each win a copy of Wilderness Chef! (U.S. and Canada only) from Bloomsbury. Good Luck!

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on August 22nd, 2020 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may or may not make a small commission which helps to support this website. Thank you!!!