When we bought Artemis, the Airstream, the previous owners proudly declared that they had never cooked inside her. We thought that was ludicrous: Why drive around with a full kitchen and not use it? Since then, we’ve come around, prepping and cooking outside as often as we can
There are a few major disadvantages to cooking inside. The heat can make sleeping uncomfortable on hot nights and odors tend to linger in such a small space. There’s also the hassle of cleaning up grease splatter and food mess. More to the point, if you’re cooking inside, you’re not outside, which was a major motivation for hitting the road in the first place.
In order to cook outside almost nighty, we had to gear up with quality outdoor kitchen ware. First came the perfect grill and, naturally, camp chairs, both of which we procured quickly. Since then, we’ve slowed down on purchases as we weigh our needs and sift through the options. The results are, for us, a small, tightly curated (with the exception of the ice cream medicine ball) selection of things that we love. Here they are.
The Table
A table might seem like a simple thing, but it has proved a conundrum. In campgrounds, you already have a picnic table, so a portable secondary feels excessive. However, after too many meals while dry camping of trying to cut elk steaks from precariously lap-balanced plates, we succumbed.
We wanted something nice, easy to set up, simple to stow, and, most of all, stable. After trying quite a few, we went with the SnowPeak Single Action Table Medium ($329), which we like, but don’t yet love. The pros: the bamboo is durable and looks great; it swivels open and closed easily; once erected, it’s as unfaltering as your home table; it has a simple carrying case to protect it. The cons: it’s a bit heavy and bulky; it ain’t cheap; and it’s tall. Standing 26 inches, it’s good for eating but sits too high relaxing around before and after meals.
We’re considering trading down for Snow Peak’s low version of this table, or the low round one. The quality and design of all three are impeccable. It’s just a matter of figuring out what works best for the most occasions. Spend some time in…
