Moveable Feasts - cooking and eating in the great outdoors

• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Reviews
• Further Reading

From a quick flick through, we reckon this is a book that could revolutionise your outdoors eating experience, both in terms of variety and nutrition and we’re uncharacteristically excited at the prospect of testing some of the recipes for real. Trangia fondue anyone?

www.outdoorsmagic.com September 2008

"The gas stove was at the wrong setting". "There wasn't enough food". "I don't think I can eat this". Familiar? Well Amy-Jane Beer and Roy Halpin don't think it should be. The authors of Cicerone's new book Moveable Feasts believe that camping shouldn't mean a compromise on culinary taste and nutrition.

This book is the ultimate guide to optimal nutrition and camp cooking, be you seasoned mountaineer, backpacker, paddler, mountain biker, adventure racer, a regular festival goer or completely new to outdoor life. Now there is no excuse not to be the next Gordon Ramsey or Rachel Allen – complete with crampons, hiking boots, tent poles and rucksacks of course!

(Outsider, October/November 2008)

‘Camp cooking doesn’t have to be about just drab pasta dishes and ready-made meals heated up in a saucepan, as this excellent book demonstrates with considerable flair.

Pitched squarely at people who consider good food and spending time outdoors to be two of life’s most indispensable pleasures, the authors take time to highlight grub that is fun, easy to prepare and highly nutritious. It is about playing all day, eating well and then waking up with the energy to do it all over again.

Part one concentrates on nutrition, with further sections on handy camp equipment, before it’s on to the really good stuff: the recipes. Here, the authors really enjoy themselves with a host of recipe plans, from individual meals to menus for multi-day expeditions. From pancakes and risottos to curries and cheesecake, all tastes are catered for – including some creative twists. Mars Bar fondue anyone? After all, you’ve probably earned it.’

(Scotland Outdoors, Winter 2008)

‘A cookbook, from Cicerone!? Moveable Feasts is a novel approach for them – a cookbook, but not just any old cookbook. It’s an outdoor person’s cookbook with a mine full of information on optimal nutrition for the outdoor enthusiast and an inspirational cookery book for anyone who wants to enjoy great food on a camping trip.

This book contains all you need to plan your camp cookery. Separated into two parts, the first containing chapters with advice on nutrition, equipment, packing food; whilst part two has almost a hundred recipes for nutritious, delicious camp meals.’

(AMI magazine, December 2008)

‘A practical guide to food on the move, this is aimed at all kinds of outdoor activist, or even those who like to cook and eat al fresco. Optimum nutrition is one of the first areas to be mentioned, and the ensuing chapters all reinforce the importance of good trail food, both for energy and emotional wellbeing.

Handy, easy cook recipes are accompanied by info on their relative cooking times and a rough estimate of the amount of fuel they use. It’ll definitely give you food for thought.’

(Adventure Travel, January 2009)

If you are considering camping and doing your own cooking whilst walking the Coast Path then you will derive maximum benefit from this book. Having said that I found that there was much information for the walker who is using B&Bs or other accommodation.

The chapter on water and drinking is excellent too with lots of advice and information. There is also a wide ranging guide to when UK foods are in season and several pages are devoted to collecting wild plant foods. Who would have thought that parts of Japanese Knotweed are edible?

(South West Coast Path Assoc, News Spring 2009)

Ingenious advice on eating and cooking al fresco

Moveable Feasts is an all-encompassing guide to cooking in the great outdoors. It could be your first step on the journey to becoming a happier camper. Aimed at all types of intrepid adventurers, from holiday-goers to serious mountaineers, it is a fool-proof compact handbook for those who like their grub. Useful guides offer advice on choosing the most practical and economical cooking equipment. It lists clever little things we tend to forget when packing.

Hydration and good nutrition are covered in detail – very useful for those taking part in endurance events. One of the most useful chapters covers packing, storage and transportation…Another excellent chapter covers mistakes, mishaps and misfortunes.

The second section…delights the reader with an abundance of tasty recipes, proving that camp cooking need not be boring or bland.

All in all, this book is a compact source of ingenious advice for anyone cooking al fresco. Moveable Feasts is a great companion for all types of campers – it will appeal to seasoned campers and novices alike. Whether off to a music festival or trekking halfway up a mountain, I don’t think I would venture out camping again without a quick flick through this little gem.

(Gillian Costelloe, Irish Mountain Log, Summer 2009)

Check out the review on the following website:

www.mostlyfood.co.uk

This 288 page volume appears in a larger format and is a feast in itself. It serves up a huge amount of information on all aspects of food for the outdoors. As with all Cicerone publications it is well produced and colourful....The authors have dealt with this often neglected subject in great detail. This book may inspire those who cook outdoors to deviate from the supermarket packets and try to tempt thier families and friends with more nourishing fare.

Strider (Long Distance Walker's Association) April 2009