The annual Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club’s Camp Cooking Competition was held recently at the club’s camping grounds on private property on the banks of Kolan River, about an hour North of Bundaberg.
With this year being one of the longest, coldest winters we’ve had for a while, the weather was perfect for sitting around an open fire.
To add to the entertainment for the event it was themed “Christmas in July”.
Campsites decked out with Christmas decorations formed part of the competition.
What started as a “Camp Oven Cooking” competition back in 2001 has evolved into an any style of camp cooking.
Over the years meals have been cooked by various means.
Hay boxes, bell ovens, frying pans, caravan ovens, Webbers, thermo cookers, smokers and the trusty camp oven have been used to serve up some quality meals, and some not so good and would be best forgotten, but that’s camp cooking for you.
Rules for the competition were that the meal had to be prepared and cooked at the camp to be eligible to win.
Dishes put up for judging were varied.
Main meals consisted of beef stew, curried sausages, baked sweet potatoes, Guiness stew with mashed potato, roast lamb with potato and pumpkin, and the winning dish, voted on by those who attended, was the peanut butter chicken and rice dish served up by Petrina Pashley.
Deserts served up included “deconstructed eclairs”, gingerbread damper and the winning dish, once again by Petrina, fairy bread slice.
For Petrina’s culinary skills her name will adorn the perpetual trophy that is handed over each year.
The campsites enhanced with various Christmas decorations were also voted on, but not until it was dark enough to see the lights in all their glory.
Petrina also took out the prize for best decorated campsite (with some help from her partner Brad), with extra points for decorating the group area as well.
The standard set by her efforts will take some beating, with next year’s activity ideas already being discussed.
To find out more on the Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club and activities we have on, contact us via email, info@bundaberg4wdclub.com, on the net here or catch us on Facebook or Instagram.
Red more Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club articles here.
Brad Praed
