Tuesday 7 July 2026
Camp Cooking – Eating Well in the Wild with Master Chef Scott Moncur
There was an excellent turnout for this fun and informative evening on camp cooking, led by our own “Master Chef” Scott Moncur. The weather was kind to us too, with a dry, bright evening providing the perfect setting.
Scott had certainly come prepared. Part of Andy Murphy’s back garden was transformed into an impressive display of camping cookery equipment, with a tent pitched alongside a wide selection of camping stoves, cookware, food, books and other outdoor cooking equipment. It was fascinating to see so many different items all in one place.
The evening covered far more than simply cooking. Scott gave an excellent talk on stove safety, different types of camping stoves, their weights and uses, fuel options, and essential outdoor cooking equipment. He also passed around various items for everyone to examine, including Swiss Army knives, flint strikers, homemade wooden spoons that he had carved himself, and other useful camping implements.
Everyone joined in with preparing different dishes, making it a very hands-on evening. The menu included damper bread, pasta, porridge, Spanish omelettes and, of course, plenty of other tasty treats. My own contribution was chocolate-button bananas, which proved popular—the chocolate buttons disappeared very quickly, with some even finding their way into the porridge!
There were so many useful tips shared throughout the evening that it was difficult to keep up with my notebook. One particularly handy suggestion, originally passed on by Chris, was that tins of beans and sausages can warm up during the day when carried in a rucksack, making them even quicker to heat when it’s time to eat.
An added bonus was the comprehensive 12-page PDF that Scott had prepared, providing an overview and running order for the entire evening. It covered all of the topics discussed and serves as an excellent reference to look back on, helping to refresh everyone’s memory after the event. It was a thoughtful addition and greatly appreciated by those attending.
The evening was relaxed, well organised and full of laughter. Everyone came away having learned something new while enjoying good company and plenty of delicious food. The photographs from the evening certainly show how much everyone enjoyed themselves.
A big thank you to Scott for giving up his time to deliver such an informative, enjoyable and entertaining evening. It was a great success and much appreciated by everyone who attended.
- Report by Lesley Paton
