The benefits of sharing the food effort
We are the only company operating in Gwaii Haanas (Queen Charlotte Islands / Haida Gwaii) that is not fully catered; that is, each person on a trip is responsible for buying and preparing three meals for the rest of the group.
We have found from past experience that sharing the food effort:
* brings an immediate sense of community to the group;
* results in the greatest variety and most delicious meals; and
* allows us to offer our tours at the lowest costs.
Here are the two most common questions we receive regarding our communal approach to cooking:
Q. How does the meal sharing actually work?
A. Once everyone has signed up for a trip, we develop a meal schedule and relay it to all group members. If the trip is full, each person will be responsible for cooking 3 meals for the whole group; that is, you will need to buy and bring the food for your designated meals and prepare the meals when your turn comes.
Q. What if the idea of having to cook for nine strangers really freaks me out?
A. Take a few deep breaths and remember the following things:
* Anything and everything tastes good in the outdoors, so don’t worry about it!
* Your guides are always available to help out, to cut, stir and boil on demand, and to help make your cooking experience easy and fun.
* There is something about food that brings people together; we want to share in the making and eating of a meal. Consequently, you often just end up delegating tasks to the hordes of people who have turned up to help you cook your meal!
* Nothing fancy is required. Basic really is best!
* If you are having a hard time coming up with meal ideas, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or click here for meal ideas.
Over the years, some of our greatest memories have come from meals we have shared on our kayaking trips in the Queen Charlottes: the time we baked pizzas in an oven that everyone helped build from beach rocks and coals from the fire; the evening a big coho was caught and we cooked it on cedar planks while the fish jumped in the bay and the full moon came up. The freedom that comes when everyone shares in the cooking process allows for moments such as these.
