... does anyone on here partake in that when out in the wilds?

In the old days we used to take one cooker with us (a Trangia in Europe or an MSR in Asia or the Americas) and have shared meals (usually cooked from raw ingredients) and brew ups through out the day.

The only slight bit of bother we had was when a guy from Barnsley came out to the Atlas mountains with us and only ate chicken and chips, turning his nose up at Trangia tagine and chickpea and lamb stews.

Nowerdays it seems that everyone has their own seperate little meths or gas cooking system on any given trip and a little bag of Ainsleys cous-cous to rehydrate. People are spread out around the bivi site pressed against rocks or tree stumps sheltering their MYOG set ups from the wind with their backs facing one another, ten metres apart. Occasionally a couple of oatcakes or a frankfurter or two are handed around, but I'm missing the shared chef vibe.

Bring back bivi trip communal cooking I say!

I think that's one of the nice thing about having a little campfire (when sensible to do so) ... gives a nice focus. I'm part way through knocking up a wood gas stove for those times when an open fire isn't the wisest move

I bought a MSR parawing for exactly that purpose on mountaineering trips, we all brought our stoves under it when back at the base and sat around chatting, whilst making food. Much better way of living in the mountains.

I know what you mean slugwash - some of the sea kayaking trips I've been on have involved really big tarps and stoves/BBQs/chairs and the occasional massive big driftwood fire (to be obliterated by the next big tide) and these have been some very special evenings. The joys of the water and tides bearing the weight and providing the propulsion though! Different joys though now - taking the boys for a sausage butty making session in the woods over Easter with this:

Cant beat cooking on fires, and have to say taking a foil wrapped spud (or two smaller ones as they cook quicker) makes it even more rewarding - jacket spuds and stew next to a fire

I don't exactly know why I wrote 'Campfire' in the thread title when I was actually refering to cooking communal meals on stoves. I meant to write campsite. :?:

some of the sea kayaking trips I've been on have involved really big tarps and stoves/BBQs/chairs ....... and these have been some very special evenings

Actually, that reminds me of when I ducked out of the communal cooking on one sea-kayaking trip. You know you have to start making your own arrangements when three days into the trip the person in charge of food pulls a jar of mayonnaise and a previously frozen bag of prawns out of their kayak! Don't think anyone actually succumbed to food poisoning on that occassion but I wasn't taking any chances.