We need to be outside. Everyone does. It’s easy to forget, and to tell ourselves we’d rather stay home. The wilderness eases our minds, reduces our stress, strengthens our bodies, and gives us unforgettable experiences that we can’t get unless we walk to them with our own two feet.
Food is an essential part of every adventure. It sustains us through challenges, and gives us the warmth and comfort we’re constantly searching for. There is no more satisfying meal than one you earned in the backcountry. Why not make food a part of the soul-nourishing experience of exploring the outdoors, and create delicious and special recipes for your next camping trip? We’re here to help you do just that.
If you have a question or comment, or if you’d like to book us for a workshop or catered outdoor event, please contact us at contact@dirtygourmet.com.
Aimee
aimee@dirtygourmet.comI’m a full time momma to four year old twins. I have a background in food science, and I have loved to cook since I was a kid. I have a serious sweet tooth and can’t stop baking. I collect cookbooks, love a good hike, and am an aspirational crafter. Picnicking in the park is my favorite way to eat.
Mai-Yan
mai-yan@dirtygourmet.comI grew up in Quebec, Canada where meat, potatoes and bread are standard fare at the dinner table, especially during the cold 5–6 months of winter. When I moved to California to pursue a career in design, I discovered a totally different climate and cuisine. My newly found independence led to some serious experimenting in the kitchen & outdoors. I’ve since fallen in love with chap chae, risotto, cycling and rock climbing. My dad’s home-cooked Chinese food is my default comfort food but Poutine is a close second.
Emily
emily@dirtygourmet.comI’ve never been much for compromising. I majored in both Biology and Philosophy, lived in the snowy mountains of sunny Southern California, and am now incorporating my love of both dirt and being fancy into one idea. I have been working in the outdoor industry for nearly 15 years, and am currently a Sales Manager at REI. My hope for this project is that it will inspire new experiences and discoveries for those who would have only found excuses before, without feeling like it has to be a compromise. You can wear sparkly tights in the desert! They act as a great base layer.
Hi Emily!
Just took your class at REI tonight. Thanks for the great info. My wife, son, and I are backpacking Lassen Volcanic NP and Redwood NP in a few weeks. Any tips or ideas on dehydrating meals?
Hi Dino, Thank you for attending my class! I’ll be teaching Dutch Oven Cooking on July 16 if you’re interested, and we may have a few more lined up throughout the summer. I just recently purchased a dehydrator (was using my oven in the past), and so I’m learning a lot of new techniques. Rehydrating seems to be my biggest issue now. One tip is to practice rehydrating at home to get the proportions right. Another is related to anything you plan to powder: dehydrate, then freeze, then grind. I did this with raw eggs last week and they came out perfectly powdered. Have a great trip!
Hi, I’m just started to consider dehydrating foods primarily for dinners for backpacking and wondered which dehydrator you use/recommend? Thanks!
Hi Christina, we haven’t tried too many different types, but I’m happy with my moderately priced Open Country Digital Dehydrator. It is a huge jump up from the ovens and cars I used previously to do the job. The downside is that it’s round, and there’s a hole through the center. If you purchase this one, I highly recommend grabbing an extra pack of Fruit Roll Sheets. I use these all the time for sauces, eggs, and of course, fruit leathers.
Another one that seems like it would be a fabulous choice is the Excalibur 9 Tray Deluxe Dehydrator. If you get that one, please let us know what you think of it!
Hi! Thank you so much for this website! I’ve done a lot of camping as child with my family, but I’m about to embark on my first over night hiking experience (5 nights in fact!). I was quite anxious about the food situation, but now I am so excited to be cooking some of your delicious looking recipes. I really can’t wait to try them out!
We’re so happy to hear this, Emma! We want to help change the idea of camping food from the intimidating factor to the motivating one! We hope it all goes well, but that you end up with fun memories even if it doesn’t. Let us know!!
You ladies are famous on the Lost Coast Trail in California. “Dirty Gourmet” came up almost every night last week — when something looked or smelled especially good!
Wow! Thanks for letting us know. Let us know what yummy meals were cooked.
I just discovered you while looking for backpacking food ideas. I love your site and have made chocolate chip banana granola bars and pie bombs in the last 2 days 🙂 Both turned out beautifully and my “I don’t like granola bars” daughter is now a granola bar monster.
Ha! Aimee is the granola fan and she has definitely turned Emily and I into granola monsters. It looks like her spell is working beyond her kitchen 😀
Hi,
I contacted you all by email last week to see if you would be interested in discussing a possible writing opportunity, but thought I would try you here too. I am looking for an author for a book on outdoor cooking and think you would all be great! If you would like a few more details, please do get in touch and I can fill you in.
Thanks!
Abi
Hi. Love the site and would love to have some information about your site shared over at campingplots.com Please take a minute to look around our site and let me know if you might consider some shared stories, link exchange, etc.
I read an article about you three from Sunset magazine just after returning from a three day campout at Baker Lake in WA state! I grew up just north of the Santa Monica Mountains where you hiked! For the last 40 years my home has been mostly in the Pacific NW and I’ve learned ‘the hard way’ about the importance of water proof tents, shoes and rain gear!
I now do only ‘car camping’ and day hikes these days. Much of my gear is from REI: I use a ‘Dream Time’ REI camping pad (A friend called it my ‘Princess Pad” it is so ‘cush!’.’) I also love my buttery soft lime green down sleeping bag and ‘squishable’ to re-expandable in moments fluffy lime green patterned REI camping pillow!
Over the years I designed my own “Pampered Camper” kit that contains in a highly efficient compact design with everything that the Eco-gourmet camper would want to have at her fingertips.
For years I thought about how great it would be to ‘pair up’ with a company that wants to manufacture these kits. If you know of anyone interested in this idea please let me know!
Here is a sample of what we ate while camping:
Breakfast:
Organic, locally roasted coffee with fresh organic cream and organic cocoa mix
Organic Multigrain pancakes with pecans, dried blueberries, maple syrup and peach Greek Yogurt
Eggs with herbs, red onion and sharp cheddar
Annie’s Mac’ N Cheese with Wild Smoked Sockeye Salmon, organic broccoli, red onion, Grated ‘4 cheese’ blend, cream and Greek yogart, dehydrated red bell pepper.
As a very experienced camperette I suggest for anyone who is a ‘newbie’ interested in camping/backpacking to make a ‘camping checklist’ of everything you need. Know what the ’10 essentials’ are to be safe and learn how to ‘leave no trace’ behind you.
I HIGHLY recommend a hammock as part of pleasurable camping. Just looking up at the leaves fluttering and reading a book, napping and snugging is so lovely! Happy Camping to All! Melissa
Hello! I’m Jeremiah Wertz and I’d like to share with you all our all natural premium canned beef and pork. Our website is http://www.bestcannedmeat.com! We raise our own beef and pork on our farm in Tiffin, Ohio. We use all natural feed and use no antibiotics on our animals! I thought I’d share this with you all because I think your followers would love our products and would benefit from our quality of service and products! Also, we are veteran owned and operated! Do you think our products would be of value to your followers?
Thank You!
Hello
Fellow backpacking enthusiast here! I know you ladies get a lot of emails, so I’ll keep this brief.
My friend David and I believe we’ve created an innovative and fun product that’ll bring smiles of pleasure (and pain) to hikers worldwide…
A spice pill! Just drop into your dehydrated meal as it cooks. It dissolves, leaving no trace but a spicy burst of flavor!
We’ve got a ton of positive feedback on reddit, and a micro-influencer even posted a rave video/post review about our product.
We’d love to gift you a sample to include in a video/post if you’re interested. Would love to send you more information.
Best,
Jay
Hi, my name is Julio Salazar and I am the Graphic designer at Tourism Saskatchewan in Canada. We are currently putting together a blog post of campfire recipes for fall camping.
I’d love to include your Golden Coconut Raspberry S’moreo recipe and wondered if I could use one of the images featured on your blog. The feature would credit your blog and provide a link to the recipe page.
Here is our blog:
https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/blog
Thank you for considering this request.
My apologies, the cocoa recipe is for the Mexican Hot Cocoa on your blog.
Thanks again.
Julio
I just discovered your website and I really like it. It’s interesting to learn that Emily works for REI. I worked there for more than ten years and saw three different store managers come through. The third decided he didn’t want to keep those who were there the longest since he didn’t hire them. One by one he eliminated us all. What a terrible company to allow that to happen. The relentless push to sell memberships is their only focus. Sorry, but I had to offer my perspective.
Hey there,
Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to ask a quick question. Is there room for improvement when it comes to your website?
Most sites need edits, tweaks, content, logos, SEO, marketing, branding, etc. and that’s why I am reaching out to you.
My name is James and I go around the internet and test services and marketplaces to see if they’re legitimate. I then let everyone know about the winners I’ve decided to stick with for my own websites so you don’t have to do the vetting yourself.
You can see my 2 big winners here: https://webvetted.com
Go through the websites, find some services you like, reach out to a few freelancers if you want to purchase something, and push your website to be better 🙂
Thanks,
James
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Love you Emily! Miss working with you <3 Using two of these recipes tomorrow night camping!
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