Seeking inspiration for "Wild" themed food for book club

My book club is reading Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail and it's my turn to host. We don't actively serve book-themed food, but I'd like to throw in a couple dishes that are a wink and a nod to the book, or at least to the idea of camping-related dishes.

I've probably read a dozen hiking books before this (mainly related to the Appalachian Trail) and the author of Wild seems to be the least food-obsessed of any I've read. Snapple lemonade, some powered milk-like product and freeze-dried noodles all get a few mentions, but there's decidedly little discussion of food.

We don't normally do a sit-down meal, and instead prefer to graze as we chat with heavy appetizers + a dessert. All I can come up with that's book related are:
Drinks: John Dalys (Dalies?) aka sweet tea vodka & lemonade
Nibbles: GORP/trail mix
Dessert: Berry cobbler (berries do get some mention in the book, as does a freeze dried cobbler)

Anyone who's read the book have other suggestions to offer? Anyone who's a camper have some camping-related ideas that would satisfy a bunch of food lovers?

Another idea I'm considering: The trail runs from Mexico to Washington, though the author only hikes from southern California to Oregon. I could do a menu that starts with something Mexican, moves into California cuisine, then wraps up with the Pacific Northwest. (Those would each be savory since I'd probably want to do something seafood oriented to represent the Pacific Northwest.)

You can always look up these guys
http://www.exoticmeatsandmore.com/

Since you were talking appetizers, here is my first take:
I'd do some salmon rolls for the oregon part, perhaps a california wine/beer for the beverage (Or sangria punch and one of the more toxic beverages from Mexico (I cannot drink tequila), a bean dip, plantain chips for the bean dip and Guacamole, salsa.
One item good for hiking that I have no clue on where to get all of the needed ingredients for would be 'Alegris', sort of a mexican snack/hiking bar. http://www.tamaraduker.com/2009/04/alegria-mexicos-answer-to-the-rice-krispie-treat/

For southern Cal, maybe leave out some ingredients for fish tacos? http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quick-fish-tacos/detail.aspx
Come to think of it, add some more expected ingredients for tacos in general.

For mid Cal, I would put out a decent garlic spread (for Gilroy) and some crackers. Or a simple roasted garlic (elephant )
Not to mention a fruit plate to represent California. (sorry - I had to edit this. I meant that California produces some great EDIBLE fruits and produce. No insult intended to anyone. Mea Culpa)

May whatever deity you worship dislike you if there is California generic cheese. Wisconsin cows are happier and less nutty IMHO.

If you are going for wild things like game, I would suggest something simple like a goat stew and a roast duck salad. Both are readily available, the goat is authentic, and if your group is like my wife's there are more readers than gourmets. Or get goat meat in cubes (how I most often find it in my area), roast it with an olive oil coating and put out with toothpicks and a couple of sauces.

Oh Heck! I just remembered I actually gave the wife a book on "book club menus". She is gone for a while, but I will have to se if I can find it.

chgoeditor wrote: Anyone who's a camper have some camping-related ideas that would satisfy a bunch of food lovers?

A freshly caught fish (or nice roadkill!) wrapped in an aluminium foil pouch and tossed on a fire to cook has long been a camper's friend.

I don't see why store bought items wouldn't work too.

a start... http://www.dianthomas.com/a-getwrappedi ... ooking.htm

Can't have an open fire where you live? Cook whatever you please conventionally and use an aluminium foil pouch just for presentation. The fans of fiction books won't mind.


Ron

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

@RonJS: Alas, no open flame. But foil-wrapped stuff does well in the oven, too, so that's an idea.

@exvaxman: Hmm...the game idea is an interesting one. I'll have to flip back through the book, but I recall she saw bears and rattlesnakes, plus heard coyotes.

Apparently one of my posts did not make it ....
For camping, do a dutch oven search. Especially for "Boy Scouts" and "Dutch Oven" dessert.
I have an electric dutch oven, but I have done close things in the kitchen.

For the post that did not make it for a camping theme, go to your local thrift store and get a "snack maker". Or a few should they be cheap.

One of those useless things that takes a couple of bread slices and toasts them with something inside. Usually 2X per unit.
Get a decent loaf of bread (and cut it to wonderbread size). Have it sitting there with things like pizza sauce, pepperoni, cut peppers,
cut /ham/roast beef/salami/etc. At one of the parent parties more people were lined up to make their own toasted sandwiches than the kids were.