Today’s episode is a deep dive into the art of cooking and eating outside, perfect to help you up your game this summer season. For many people, figuring out portable meals that are healthy, filling and tasty is a challenge. For others, the prospect of bringing food on the trail is an afterthought entirely. I spoke with Bon Appetit’s Brad Leone and Best Served Wild authors Brendan Leonard and Anna Brones for advice on how to eat well, cook well and impress friends with your camp cooking.
Anna Brones and Brendan Leonard are both writers and adventurers. Anna spends her time outside on bike tours, while Brendan, who is the creator of Semi-Rad and a previous guest of this show, is an ultramarathon runner. They’ve both learned to cook delicious, nutritious food outside and agree that food always tastes better after a long day on the trail. Their book Best Served Wild covers easy vegetarian recipes (which are adaptable for meat eaters) for all kinds of outdoor excursions.
Brad Leone is the host of Bon Appétit Magazine’s hit YouTube series “It’s Alive!,” a show about preparing fermented and live foods. Brad is an active traveler and outdoorsman who has spent a lot of time not only adventuring in the outdoors but also foraging, fishing and hunting for his own food.
In our conversations, these three told me some great stories, wisdom, meal ideas and simple tips to up your cooking game. Plus, they talk about the joy of eating food in nature, why it’s important to get outside and shared some delicious recipes. It made me realize that eating outside doesn’t have to be boring. It can be delicious and nutritious. Don’t let food be an afterthought as you’re hitting the trails, the beach, or the mountains this year. Trust me, with a little planning ahead, you can fuel your adventures with tasty meals.
Listen to this episode if:
- You think eating outdoors always tastes better.
- You’re an amateur or aficionado campfire chef and want to get better.
- You want to know how to build an outdoor kitchen.
- You could use ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner (and dessert!) while camping.
- You’re a fan of Brad Leone and It’s Alive! or Brendan Leonard of Semi-Rad and Anna Brones.
Three Ingredients Besides Peanuts Peanut Sauce
Adapted from Best Served Wild by Brendan Leonard and Anna Brones
This sauce works great on just about anything: rice noodles, stir fried vegetables or simply by the spoonful. You can glam the recipe up by adding some finely chopped ginger, freshly grated ginger or red chili pepper flakes.
Makes: about two servings
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 to 4 tablespoons water
Preparation
Place the soy sauce, sesame oil and peanut butter in a pan on low to medium heat. Stir until the peanut butter softens. Add the water, going slowly until you reach the desired consistency. If you add a little too much water, just keep it on the stove a little longer until it thickens.