This thread really interests me !
Im a Chef, I have been working in professional kitchens for around 16 years now.
Im also a huge VW van fanatic! - longer then ive been cooking!
And I happen to be the author of "the original VW campercookbook"
so answering the question
"Can anyone recommend any tried and tested meals???"
YES - I can
I designed all the recipes in the book with not only the vw camper in mind but also, equipment, space, veggies and vegans, cooking ability, availability of ingredients, and of course variety and inspiration.
With the exception of a few BBQ recipes! which i thought would be useful too and the gingerbread bus (last recipe) they all can be made in a camper.
I have put in a lot of time and effort into my book, I thought about a lot of factors, such as the fact that some of us dont even have 2 rings in our bus and just carry around a single gas stove, so there are many recipes in the book which can be cooked with just one ring, some recipes don't even need cooking! I also made sure that the recipes and methods are extremely simple and easy to follow, each recipe has a small "utensils" logo which at a glance lets you know what you will mostly need to pull of the recipe, ie a frying pan and a bowl.
I have even tested some of the recipes out on complete culinary novices (ie my brother chris "crusty" Rooker) who has zero kitchen skills.
Last time he was over mine I asked him if he would cook us carbonara from the book and I was quite amazed, it was excellent.
But here are some tips that come to mind when cooking, whenever and wherever, be it in your bus or at home.
top tip - Mise en place - a french culinary term which basically means prepare, prepare everything you can before you start cooking.
A great phrase that I always quote in the kitchen, its from an old sous chef I used to work with many years ago, he used to say " its better to be looking at it, then for it!" basically make sure you have everything and that you have enough of it.
Another one I always quote "you can add but you cant take away" as once you have over done it, its too late, so taste as you go.
2 last quotes - practise makes perfect!
and my favorite - a man who never made a mistake, never made anything!
So Tom, Thanks for buying my book, I think you will be flying through the recipes and cooking up a storm once you have mastered some basics.
id say start with some thing simple such as "omelette page 60-61" or "scandinavian fish soup page 24-25" or what about pancakes "page 148-149" and perfect it.
pete B - sounds like you have some skills :wink:
Im going to be doing a few shows around the UK next year, and I will definitely be cooking some demos from the book in our van.
"thats me above borrowing rikki's bus for an impromptu cooking demo"
cheers
Steve Rooker
please check out our book at http://www.vwcampercookbook.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.fanofthevan.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
