Do people actually cook in their van?

[Skylark2.0]

We cook most of the time in the van. Easy stuff and set of 3 fancy non-stick pans (recommended on this forum) so it doesn't stick. Packet pasta, veg and hot dog saus. Wraps and mexican quorn mince, salad etc. Super noodles, veg and hot dog saus. I keep vege saus, quorn etc in the amazing fridge. The cooker is amazing, fast and clean. We occasionally fry bacon outside on a simple single gas ring we've had for years.
We cook and our son washes up. He takes his phone and listens to music or chats to the locals. He was trained to wash up when he was 8 and does a great job, he's now 15!
We prep, cook and wash up together which is part of the fun. We'd rather spend our time in the fresh air playing cards or board games than down a noisy pub! There's always the entertainment of watching someone spending 2 hrs cooking a meal to watch.
We eat out on travelling days when we are weary or if passing through an interesting place to have a look around.

 

[CALI FATE]

#whybuyacaliinthefirstplace

If you buy a Beach you save £10k - divide that by £30 and that buys you 300 plus pub meals out - #bestofbothworlds

 

[marshian70]

If you buy a Beach you save £10k - divide that by £30 and that buys you 300 plus pub meals out - #bestofbothworlds

Think you've forgotten that the Beach will be worth less than an Ocean/SE when you eventually come to sell. Any real world saving is considerably less than £10k - how much of course depends on how long you keep it.
#notstartinganotherbeachvsSEdebate

 

[CALI FATE]

Think you've forgotten that the Beach will be worth less than an Ocean/SE when you eventually come to sell. Any real world saving is considerably less than £10k - how much of course depends on how long you keep it.
#notstartinganotherbeachvsSEdebate

#godforbidnowaywouldiwanttodothatbut - its all a matter of proportionality - there is no depreciation on a Beach because they are more cooler than an SE/Ocean and owners tend to keep them for life.

 

[Neilgbj]

#godforbidnowaywouldiwanttodothatbut - its all a matter of proportionality - there is no depreciation on a Beach because they are more cooler than an SE/Ocean and owners tend to keep them for life.

It's too early for wind ups.....

 

[Volky]

I don't think it's that people don't respect other views, it's that sometimes the poster posts a deliberately provocative and judgmental comment...
Personally, we eat out sometimes and cook inside and outside the Cali. Having "hotelled" for very many years, I have become sick and tired of the poor food dished up by expensive hotels, restaurants and pubs - especially to the kids - for which we've paid through the nose. These are the positive thoughts that I have when washing up!

 

[Seasidesteve]

I would say we eat out 95% of the time, we use the kitchen for the kettle and the odd emergency pasta dish.

The way we look at it, by camping we have saved money by not having a hotel room so the spare cash we spend on eating out. With Trip advisor it is now easier to find a good establishment and are rarely disapointed.

Sorry in advance to the eating-out haters on here !!!

 

[GrannyJen]

I bought a California because for me it gives me the ultimate flexibility.

I can go away anytime, stop anytime, stop virtually anywhere, travel by ferry or eurotunnel, sleep upstairs or downstairs , on a topper or without, with or without family, wash up if I want, eat out if I want.

That's what makes it my dream vehicle. My choice, my lifestyle, my van, only me to please.

 

[briwy]

We do everything, no prefernece on way or the other. Cook outside generally, cook inside if the weather is really bad, eat in pubs, chippies, take aways, whatever is best at the time. Biggest problem for me about cooking in the van is turning the gas bottle on. What a faff. Empty the bottom shelf, take shelf out, move the tow rope that sits on top of the lid, undo the lid, turn bottle on, screw lid back on and do everything in reverse. OK if we are on site for a few days but I don't feel it's safe to travel with it turned on
In about half that time the freestanding cooker is up and running and kettle on.
Mr Ds cooker is a boon. Prepare in the morning and leave it, no power/gas required after initial prep, and a meal ready for evening. Great if on the move as the cooking happens while travelling.

 

[IanE]

We leave the gas bottle turned on permanently, except of course when changing the bottle. We turn the gas on and off using the tap under the sink. We've done this since buying the van six years ago, I think without ill effect.

More knowledgeable folk will correct me if I'm wrong - I hope not as that would be a major bummer!

Ian

 

[briwy]

We leave the gas bottle turned on permanently, except of course when changing the bottle. We turn the gas on and off using the tap under the sink. We've done this since buying the van six years ago, I think without ill effect.

More knowledgeable folk will correct me if I'm wrong - I hope not as that would be a major bummer!

Ian

Well as I said I don't think it's safe to leave it turned on while driving. God forbid in the event of a crash the pipe to the tap under the sink could rupture and you have a recipe for an explosion. Just my opinion.

 

[Meoncoast]

I fully support the view that leaving the Gaz bottle turned on is a risk further than I would take, We all have seen with the pictures of Kmann Cali on it's side following an accident which came out of the blue.

 

[sidepod]

Pod's first law of Forum posting.

"Every post will eventually transform in to Beach v SE."

 

[BikerGran]

The comment made by the landlord seem to be at odds with the Britstop ethos. From your post there is in fact pressure to pay it back?

I would say rather that this particular landlord didn't go along with the ethos and therefore withdrew from the scheme.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Yet according to the Britstop website:

"Won't we be pressured to buy from our hosts?

No. Part of the aims of Brit Stops (see our "Aims" page), which everyone signs up to, is simply to spread understanding of local and sustainable produce, and to put motorhome tourists in touch with local producers. If you want to buy anything, great - but hosts will understand that not everyone will want to. Even the customers who turn up every day may not buy something. In our experience though, with some extra cash available due to not having to pay camp site fees, we are always tempted by the fresh farm produce, the menu or the odd bottle or two of wine.."

The comment made by the landlord seem to be at odds with the Britstop ethos. From your post there is in fact pressure to pay it back?

I do believe that people using Britstops should give something back. Im not saying go buy a 3 course dinner at every stop, but couldn't people at least buy some produce or a meal or breakfast or something. Otherwise whats the point...???

If you don't fancy contributing, then wild camp . I honestly don't mean to be offensive, its just an opinion. You scratch my back i scratch yours, kind of thing

 

[Teejay]

I do believe that people using Britstops should give something back. Im not saying go buy a 3 course dinner at every stop, but couldn't people at least buy some produce or a meal or breakfast or something. Otherwise whats the point...???

If you don't fancy contributing, then wild camp . I honestly don't mean to be offensive, its just an opinion. You scratch my back i scratch yours, kind of thing

Oh no, I agree entirely. I'm of the opinion that if parking is free or good value, where ever that may be, then we''re more likely spend locally. Less so if the fees are extortionate. I don't know the landlords situation but I wonder if he knew what he signed up to. I wouldn't be surprised if there are lots of Britstops that come and go for similar reasons.

If pressured to buy I'm happy to move on, give someone else my hard earned.

PS: I've not used any yet, don't have a vehicle but I would like to give them a try.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Oh no, I agree entirely. I'm of the opinion that if parking is free or good value, where ever that may be, then we''re more likely spend locally. Less so if the fees are extortionate. I don't know the landlords situation but I wonder if he knew what he signed up to. I wouldn't be surprised if there are lots of Britstops that come and go for similar reasons.

If pressured to buy I'm happy to move on, give someone else my hard earned.

PS: I've not used any yet, don't have a vehicle but I would like to give them a try.

Ok
I do get your point actually.
Must admit, when we have stayed at campsites that were overpriced, we tend to tighten what we spend if we feel we haven't received value for money.

So yes, I see where coming from

 

[calicasas]

Eating out normally involves eating loads of salt, OK for the odd couple of days but not great of you are away often or for long periods.

.... Or drinking lots of wine.... Much better for you than salt....

 

[Velma's Dad]

Just saw an article on BBC website about the (non)recyclabliity of coffee shop paper cups that I found interesting and a little bit shocking, and it reminded me of the discussion further up this thread about using disposables etc.

Gist of the article is that (in UK at least) 'paper' coffee cups are actually blend of paper/plastic and non-recyclable in practical terms. And they're not even made from recycled paper in the first place, but usually from virgin pulp.

I had been very dimly aware of that before, but it shows how the fast food companies put out lots of ambiguous green-wash that gives us a warm feeling that it's 'okay' to buy their stuff... don't worry your little consumer heads, we'll take care of the environment for you. And I've been falling for it.

Now I will try my best to take our own mugs when calling in at Costa etc when out Calivanting.

 

[TimR]

Now I will try my best to take our own mugs when calling in at Costa etc when out Calivanting.

Good stuff. Everything disposable should be discouraged. There is little excuse for it.

 

[calimera]

Best thing about the Cali for us is not putting the kettle on ,but putting on the espresso coffee maker on the gas hob or using the aeropress makes fab coffee much better than Costa .

Love stopping at the service station with our Cali coffee in our favourite mugs . If walking/hiking take our flask filled with coffee.

 

[Hotel California]

Good stuff. Everything disposable should be discouraged. There is little excuse for it.

Every wast is wast even if it can be recycled....
Also think lot's of socalled "eco-friendly" products are not the eco-friendly at all.
Lots of money involved so maffia-rules.....

 

[BikerGran]

Best thing about the Cali for us is not putting the kettle on using the aeropress makes fab coffee much better than Costa .

Oh yes I got an Aeropress for my birthday - I love it better than any kind of coffee machine as it takes so little time to use AND to wash - and the coffee is wonderful!

 

[Velma's Dad]

Oh yes I got an Aeropress for my birthday - I love it better than any kind of coffee machine as it takes so little time to use AND to wash - and the coffee is wonderful!

Also a big fan of Aeropress and yes it's so easy to clean out - just push out the coffee 'plug' then a two second rinse under the tap.

But Mrs VD likes her lattes... anyone found a good/simple milk frother for use in the van??

 

[Hotel California]

Actually making coffee is not cooking so tread-pollution.....
Lots on coffee here....
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/nespresso.8374/