Camp oven cooking is a favourite family winter pastime for us.  Recently when the team from Slow Food Mildura called on their members to join the team at the Koorlong Camp Oven Cook Off we immediately volunteered.

While we have done plenty of camp oven cooking at home and for friends we have never ventured into the competitive side of cooking with coals, cast iron and fire.

The rules for the day were fairly simple.  Teams had to supply their own coals/fuel and cook all food in camp ovens or Bedourie ovens.  Naturally, Slow Food Mildura went to great efforts to ensure most of their meal was sourced from seasonal, local ingredients.

We spent the day preparing and cooking, tending to the charcoal to keep the ovens hot, serving the hungry paying customers, testing some food and drinks ourselves, making new friends and soaking up the country music and slight smoky atmosphere.   As we chopped and mixed ingredients, conversation and discussion flowed easily.  Busy hands seem to encourage easy conversation.

Although we have been Slow Food members for a year or two we haven’t attended many of their events.  This day was a perfect place to start.  With the underlying love of food connecting our group we felt welcomed, like instant friends.   At the end of the day we were generously loaded up with fresh home grown produce that the local team members had supplied to decorate the serving area.

 

 

Food really does connect people and days like this just prove it to me all over again.

Do you dabble in any camp oven cooking or camp cooking?

Do you have a favourite outdoor dish?

Have a lovely Sunday, friends x