Martin Dorey, surfer, writer and author of ‘The Campervan Cookbook’ shares his tips for cooking gourmet meals on four wheels.

So what led you to write the book?

Surfing is the catalyst for all this. The VW camper is the best vehicle for surfers because it’s the perfect way to wake up next to the beach. You can sleep, eat and live in them perfectly comfortably, and if the conditions change you can pack up and head off somewhere else without any hassle. I wanted to write the book to share 20 (or more) years of experience camping, cooking and living in campers (although not all at once – I do own a house as well).

What’s the best thing about campervan living?

Being able to go where you want without having to pack up a tent and all the paraphernalia that goes with it. Having a cuppa anywhere. Getting off the sofa. Keeping dry in a storm.

With preparation, thought and patience, yes. Although as I’m no chef I’d just call it good food. Some of the world’s best dishes can be done in one pan.

What’s the most memorable meal you’ve cooked in your camper?

Vietnamese chicken curry (page 119) for our really good friends Cath and Martin at music festival Solfest in Cumbria last year, parked on a slope, in the pissing rain. It was flippin’ lovely and we cracked open a bottle of bolly to wash it down.

I’ve heard on the grapevine that there might be a BBC TV show in the pipeline for the autumn, where will that be taking you?

Yes there is. We started filming yesterday. We’re going all over the UK to see some of the best stuff.

And finally, name the top 3 ingredients or utensils that every campervan cook should have…

-Sharp knives (you got no blender or whizzer)

-Smoked paprika to liven up any meat or fish (crafty tip from my friend Stefan)

-Pasta and pesto to counter any children and hunger emergencies

Martin’s book is available at £10.19 at amazon.co.uk or you can buy it from the FAF online shop.

Pics c/o Cath Knight and Martin Dorey

Prefer a spot of ‘boeuf bourguignon’ instead of ‘boil in the bag’ on your camping trips?  Share your top tips for cooking under canvas in our comments section below.

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