Camp-out Cooking Class, REI, June 17, 2010

If you're at all interested in learning about cooking out-of-doors, REI in Northbrook (corner of Waukegan Road and Willow, in the same mega strip mall as the Midwest's largest Whole Foods) is offering a class next Thursday, and they still have several openings left.

Oh, yeah -- and it's free. However, you do have to register, as space is limited.

Here's their write up:

Description: Do you want to make good meals at camp but feel unsure how to cook them? Would you like tips on what to bring and how to make the most of cooking in the outdoors? Join REI for an introductory class on campsite cooking. We have years of experience to share, and we'd like to help you learn how to boil and braise your way to tasty eating outside. No experience necessary!

Link to the site (includes time, map, etc.): http://www.rei.com/event/225/session/7873

The Lincoln Park store also has a Camp Cooking Basics workshop on 6/17.

REI Lincoln Park wrote:Camp Cooking Basics
http://www.rei.com/event/225/session/8200

* Date: 6/17/2010
* Event Location: Lincoln Park REI
* Event Fee: Free

* Time: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (CDT)
* Leader: REI Specialist
* Group Size: 50

Description: Do you want to make good meals at camp but feel unsure how to cook them? Would you like tips on what to bring and how to make the most of cooking in the outdoors? Join REI for an introductory class on campsite cooking. We have years of experience to share, and we'd like to help you learn how to boil and braise your way to tasty eating outside. No experience necessary!

HI,

Do you know if these occur regularly? I saw there are 17 slots available. If I didn't have my Canadian meeting on Saturday, I'd sign up.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Do you know if these occur regularly?

Yes, they do, at least semi-regularly. The person in charge of the programming at the Lincoln Park Store is Claire Hurwitz. I know they have many more events planned for the coming months (including a special Fork and the Road tour on Saturday, August 7), which have not been published to the web site yet. I'm sure if you contact Claire, she can tell you what events have been scheduled beyond June.

Claire Hurwitz
Outreach Specialist REI Lincoln Park
1466 N Halsted Street
312-951-6020 x204
churwit@rei.com

I don't have a specific name of a contact, but because the Northbrook store would be a bit closer for you, Cathy2, here's their info:

888 Willow Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 480-1938

Here's the link to the Northbrook store, with a list of all the events for June (though the one on the 17th is the only cooking one at present). The page also offers the option of signing up for emails about events.
http://www.rei.com/stores/40

The Northbrook store also sometimes runs events in conjunction with Whole Foods, which is just across the parking lot. For example, see a slide show on Mexico at REI and then walk over to Whole Foods for Mexican food. However, events with food aren't free. But for one who loves food and travel, it's a nice combo.

This turned out to be somewhat different from what I anticipated. The inclusion of the word "braise" led me to believe it would be more about the actual food. It was, in fact, more about the available equipment, plus things such as bear safes, water filters, and other ways of making camping safe.

I will say that some of the equipment was mighty cool. The Jetboil is small (really, and only 15 ounces), self-contained, and will boil two cups of water in about 1-1/2 minutes. Which is great if you're packing in dried food.

So if you're a serious camper, definitely check out this program. There was some discussion of how car camping would differ from backpacking -- because with car camping, you don't have the weight limit you do if you have to carry it all.

It was fun, but not really about how to cook, just what tools are available.

I'll be interested to hear if anyone went to the presentation in Lincoln Park. Did it differ from this?

Well, REI does not sell cooking so to speak....
I'm not surprised they talked a lot about the
gear needed to cook instead of actual cooking.

mhill95149 wrote:Well, REI does not sell cooking so to speak....
I'm not surprised they talked a lot about the
gear needed to cook instead of actual cooking.

Yes -- but I have gone to programs at REI that didn't sell anything at all, except the idea of travel, and when they've done joint events with Whole Foods (across the parking lot from REI), there have been interesting recipes demonstrated and handed out. So I had hoped for a little more cooking information. That said, the gizmos were cool, and the rehydrated food was surprisingly tasty, so still gained something.