Campsites decked out with Christmas decorations and meals themed around the festive celebration meant the annual Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club Camp Cooking Competition was once again upon us.
The weekend was held at the clubs camping grounds on private property on the banks of Kolan River,
about an hour North of Bundaberg.
The weather was perfect for sitting around an open fire.
What started as a Camp Oven Cooking competition back in 2001 has evolved into an any style of camp cooking.
Over the years meals have been cooked by various means.
Hay boxes, bell ovens, frying pans, caravan ovens, Webbers, Thermo cookers, Smokers and the trusty camp oven have been used to serve up some quality meals, and some not so good and would be best forgotten, but that’s camp cooking for you.
Rules for the competition were that the meal had to be prepared and cooked at the camp to be eligible to win.
Thai creamy coconut curry, sticky braised pork belly, teriyaki chicken, oxtail tikka masala, spicy
chicken wings, pigs in blankets, pancit, honey barbecue chicken, shepherd’s pie, paella, and various side dishes made for a feast fit for kings.
For those that had any room in their stomachs after the mains were treated to a selection of desserts.
Rum balls, plum pudding, fruit mince scones, white Christmas, various trifles, lamingtons, cherry rice bubbles, with sides like custard and ice cream to compliment the dishes.
The variety on offer at our campsite would put some top-class restaurants to shame.
Members sampled all the outstanding meals and a secret ballet taken.
Choosing a winner was a hard decision, with the best main meal of Smoked Ham with Roasted Veggies being not only the winner for that, but also taking out the people’s choice.
Well done to the O’Hearn family for their efforts, with their name added to the perpetual trophy that has been handed down since the competition’s inception.
The best dessert went to Lionel & Anika Smith with the Mango Cheesecake topping off a great feast.
To find out more on the Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club and activities we have on, contact us via email, info@bundaberg4wdclub.com, on the net at www.bundaberg4wdclub.com or catch us on Facebook or Instagram.
Brad Praed
Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club
