When I was a kid, my dad’s idea of indoor cooking was tuna on crackers. Sure, he was the master of the grill, but he just didn’t know his way around the kitchen. Over time, he became proficient at more than steaks, burgers, chicken, and hot dogs, and in his later years, he was quite the accomplished chef in the kitchen, or outdoors. I think that if he were around today, the Destination Kitchen Set 24 from GSI Outdoors would be the ideal Father’s Day gift for him. Packed inside a ballistic nylon case are all the tools he would need to turn a camping trip into a culinary adventure.
GSI Outdoors Destination Kitchen Set 24Weighing just 28.2 ounces, this kit has all the essentials for prep, seasoning, serving, eating, and even cleaning up. Cutting and dicing in advance is a nice time saver, but a knife and cutting board are included if you’re starting with whole foods. A little cheese grater is complemented by a Pivot Spoon that’s nice and deep, plus a Pivot Spatula with one serrated edge, both of which have handles that rotate around for easy storage. Whipping up some scrambled eggs, or mixing ingredients in a bowl? There’s a collapsible whisk for that. Speaking of ingredients, there are two refillable foil-type condiment containers, and a small spicer that’s a fancy version of the two-liter bottle cap one which is so popular with minimalists. Up to four lucky campers can enjoy your gourmet meal using the included cutlery set, and when it’s time to clean up, the scrubber and towel come in handy. All that fits inside a compact 11.70″ x 7.70″ x 3.50″ case.
According to The Outdoor Foundation’s American Camper Report, camping is on the rise in the United States. Although this could be due to a variety of reasons, such as higher overall vacation costs, and less time available away from work, we’d like to think that simply enjoying time outdoors with family and friends is a major contributing factor. And while hiking and backpacking are certainly going strong, our visits to the Outdoor Retailer shows certainly reinforce the concept of “not roughing it” for many people. Products like this are exactly the thing that makes enjoying car camping or even a cabin stay that much better. There’s nothing in the kit that you couldn’t purchase separately yourself, but GSI Outdoors has combined them all into one handy carrying case that takes up little room. I love to cook, and given the time, would much rather prepare at least part of our meal in a pan over a fire, rather than just adding hot water to a bag of dehydrated food, no matter how good it’s become lately.
We’ve had the opportunity to try out a variety of products from GSI Outdoors and have yet to be disappointed. From backpackers that need to watch every ounce in their packs to car campers that are looking for convenience and versatility, or even setting up a base camp for a larger gathering, you can easily find just about every item you need to prepare and serve delicious meals, which are that much better with a side of fresh air. gsioutdoors.com
– Brian