Cooking onboard

Eating out appears to be the choice of many boaters rather than cooking onboard. Whilst away, it’s a holiday in itself not to have to cook but we sometimes we come away disappointed with the fare we’ve been served.

Despite the ‘effort’ involved, preparing an exciting meal onboard, full of mouthwatering flavours can be such fun and so rewarding.

I mean, after you’ve moored up and decide to go exploring on foot, search out the world of the local farmers’ markets and supermarkets and explore their great produce. In France especially, you are spoilt for choice with seafood galore, vegetables, cheeses, speciality vinegars, wines, breads – just smell the aromas. Is your mouth watering yet?

Making it fun to cook onboard

Over the years, Lin and I have developed some specific solutions to cooking onboard and making great food. So we’ve decided to share this by adding Cooking posts to get you going.

We’ll start soon by adding posts under a new ‘Cooking’ category on quick and easy ‘wow’ goodies such as Parmesan cheese crisps before becoming more adventurous. We’ll also be adding ‘food goodies’ when we come across good sources at the various ports we visit and, when we want a break and really don’t want to cook, we’ll add comments about the restaurants we visit and recommend – or otherwise.

So, if you use any of our ideas and find you like your initial creations, do keep going. Much is about simple technique and preparation with nothing too complicated or time consuming.

Keep going!

As I’ve said, we’ll start with simple ‘nibbles’ which go really well with early evening drinks. If they work for you, you can then decide to start climbing the ladder with our starters, main courses and finally, desserts.

Our experience is that there’s nothing like sharing an on-board prepared meal with newly found boating friends from neighbouring berths.

Wine, conversation and laughter all flow amidst the high praise the chef receives.

Best of Breed ingredients

We will keep our Best of Breed ingredients page updated as and when we find worthy and outstanding products.

Something to share?

If you’ve found a recipe that works for you onboard, please send it to us and we’ll publish it for you. Whether it’s simple or complex, let’s get cooking!

Inspiration

We’re often asked where our inspiration for cooking comes from. Lin’s been cooking brilliantly for many years, but for Piers, it wasn’t until he attended a five day course at the Ashburton Cookery School accompanied by Kim Hollamby, that his love of cooking took off.

So, to whom do our thanks go?

• Ashburton Cookery School
• Hilary and Kiffer (Piers sister and brother in law)
• Kim Hollamby (great friend)
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Piers and Lin
from the Galley of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Dried meats, hams and sausages, anyone? click to enlarge	Seafood galore straight from the sea that morning click to enlarge
Onions, shallots, garlics…. click to enlarge	….and Lobsters just waiting to nip you! click to enlarge

Latest cooking onboard posts

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