What’s happening?
Next weekend at the Australian Camp Oven Festival in Millmerran, multi-award-winning Ranger Nick will showcase how to use a camp oven as a smoker, preparing dishes like smoked chicken breast flavoured with Australian native seasonings.
The festival, held bi-annually on the first weekend of October, will highlight both camp oven smoking and baking with native ingredients.
Why it Matters?
With BBQs and smokers dominating Australian backyards, the humble camp oven is finding new uses.
Ranger Nick’s approach not only introduces a new cooking method but also emphasises the importance of preserving Aussie bush tucker traditions.
“The combination of smoke with Australian native flavours is extraordinary,” Ranger Nick says. By incorporating native ingredients, he’s aiming to bring a fresh flavour profile to meals, blending heritage with modern cuisine.
By the Numbers
- The Australian Camp Oven Festival has been a key event for several decades.
- It draws tens of thousands of visitors, solidifying its place on the Australian festival calendar.
Zoom in
Ranger Nick’s demonstration will focus on making camp oven smoking accessible and easy for home cooks, with an emphasis on native ingredients such as bush spices.
“To my knowledge, no one is using the camp oven to smoke their meat or fish, but it’s really quite simple,” he explains.
He aims to expand the palette of traditional bush tucker by enhancing familiar dishes with indigenous flavours.
Zoom Out
The Australian Camp Oven Festival was originally the brainchild of Outback Legends Ned Winter and Gary Fogarty.
Since its inception, the festival has grown to become a celebrated event for food lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike.
It represents a fusion of heritage and culinary innovation, honouring outback traditions while introducing new techniques.
Local Impact
Millmerran benefits from the influx of visitors, with local businesses seeing a spike in tourism over the festival weekend.
The event helps promote Australian native foods and cooking methods, fostering a greater appreciation for the country’s culinary heritage.
What to look for next
Ranger Nick will continue to explore new ways to incorporate native Australian flavours into camp oven cooking.
“I’m on a mission to mix traditional Aussie bush tucker with Western cuisine, preserving our heritage while serving up some serious flavour,” he says. Stay tuned for more recipes and techniques as he continues to blend bush tucker with modern Western dishes.
For more information, visit www.rangernick.com.au.
