It Always Tastes Better… or, How Sweet It Is?

Food always tastes better when you are camping.  Why?  This has been the new riddle as we embark upon our new voyage of caravanning.

For most people, I know that camp chow means simple – beans and wieners, made-ahead casseroles, and quick-fix meals with few ingredients.  But, alas, we are not most people, and while we enjoy the simplicity of camping, we do not compromise on our meals.  My travelling spice box contains about 50 packets of everything you can imagine, from cardamom pods to whole nutmeg!  You just never know when you might need something!

At ‘home’ we cook up great feasts, every night, using every pot, pan, plate and implement available; messing up the counter top, stove top and every other surface imaginable.  As I’ve written in the past, the meal is always commendable – usually fantastic, occasionally not so much, but always edible, always fun, and always messy.

So, now we are hitting the road in our cherished little British Caravan.  “Camping’” means we have cable TV, WiFi Internet, a gas oven and stove, a small fridge and a very small kitchen area, not to mention a BBQ and large outside prep area, and most campgrounds have well-fitted communal kitchens with everything else you could possibly need.

So, EVERY meal we have enjoyed in our sweet Bertha has been stellar – I mean 5 star, exceptional, craving for more, darned good food.  Whether it has been simply marinated steaks, lamb chops, or grilled salmon fillets…  Just the best!  And, while the BBQ’d treats have been awesome, the stuff we’ve roasted in the communal kitchens’ ovens have been noteworthy, as well.  Go figure?!

And, then there is the clean up.  On the road, everything goes into the orange ‘sink bin’ and gets done when it’s convenient – tonight, in the morning or whenever.  But, there is never that much…  Our two plates, utensils, a serving platter or two, maybe a pot from the potatoes or the rice cooker bowl…  Just never as much as from the kitchen at home. A disposable wipe (I only use them when camping) and the surfaces are sparkly again.  Hmmm… makes me wonder.  Do we over-think or overdo our ‘home’ meals and go more ‘simple’ on the road?

So, what makes food on the road taste SO good?  Are we that much more relaxed?  Is it simpler? Are we planning our meals better?  We are taking advantage of local produce on the road, but we tend to do that at home, too. Or, are we just so happy to be celebrating a stress free life?

So, what is that special ingredient that turns every day food into the food of the Gods and makes it a memory to be treasured, no matter how simple?  Is it the spice of life, the simplicity of being, the sharing of a meal with loved one(s)?  Or, is it just knowing that the damned dishes are going to be quick and easy!!?