The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning
The landscape of our cookbook collection has changed a little lately and we like it. The idea of living off the grid and being self-sufficient has never been so appealing and, in light of the looming US election, we are definitely not alone in yearning to escape society as we know it. Hipsters speak of homesteading, practiculture, foraging and infusing city living with the country kitchen, which is wonderful but it can’t compare with being completely self-sufficient and living off the land.
A week long canoe trip
I remember as a kid on a week long canoe trip, after a day of paddling on the water, cooking dinner over a campfire by the edge of the river. It was the best food imagineable, coming out of a basic camp kitchen. It was a team effort, creating comfort and nourishment. Taking carefully stowed away packages of ingredients and a cold fire pit and transforming that into a gourmet meal around a warm crackling fire under the stars. Seasoned with all of the outdoors, smoked lightly, dusted with ash and presented without pretense, it was well planned and earned.
A polar journey
The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning: A Polar Journey 
An epic task
An epic task of organization for a trip to the bottom of the world, with endless provision lists, menu planning, and coordination involving the cooperation of everyone along the way.
The book is written like a journal, starting from the conception of the project. You follow along as the authors prepare for and depart on their journey. Infused with history, amusing stories and quotations it shares many similarities to historic adventures to the south pole, harkening back to the amazing story of Ernest Shackleton, and the one constant that remains over all the years is the need to eat in the extreme and baron landscape of the Antarctic.
Through their stomachs
Chronicled through their stomachs, Trusler and Devine’s journal entries include menus for the day or ideas for further organization. You are lead through the summer of ’96 with descriptions of their many relationships and experiences along the way. It’s a very personal book lifted from the diaries of two people with endless energy and passion for this daunting adventure to a place most of us will never set foot.
In the makeshift kitchen
Although some of the recipes are accompanied by pictures that seem too glamorous to have been taken in their makeshift kitchen, it is faithful to what was on the table in the Antarctic. Simple, delicious recipes like Stoney Bay Chowder, Honey Oatmeal Bread or Cinnamon Buns warm this tale from a frozen land. Comfort foods like Cabbage Pie or a proven simple Chocolate Cake must have been devoured by hungry adventurers around the camp dinner table, sure to be some of the most well-earned and satisfying meals those travelers will ever remember.
#adventurecuisine
Great cooks love to push the limits of their kitchen and to pull off a dish like Asparagus Paté or the beautifully presented Pollo Relleno is unexpected and exciting in these extreme conditions, living up to its new hashtag, #adventurecuisine.
Food shaped this amazing journey and helped tell the story of an exceptional group of people lead by two extraordinary Canadians. A proud moment in Canadian history and the definition of “a cook not mad”.
Photo credit: Sandy Nicholson
Thank you to HarperCollinsCanada Ltd for sending us a copy to review. They asked for our honest opinion and that’s what we delivered.
I can’t even imagine what that adventure would have been like or how incredibly resourceful they were. I enjoy camping now and then but to live out in the Antarctic for that amazing cause is out of this world. I’m not a particular fan of “cookbooks” but this I might have to seriously consider.
How cool! This book sounds so interesting–I love that it gives details about how and what they are as well as the story of the people and the adventure. I would love to visit the Antarctic, and doing so on an expedition to help clean up the land would be such a great experience! Will definitely have to check out this book!
I haven’t read this particular book yet, but if my library has it….it’s going on the reserve list. I did read the other one in the pic though. Haida Gwaii by Susan Musgrave. I Never laughed so much while reading a cookbook. Honestly…I kept reading out passages to my husband. The last book that I remember doing that was Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast. Another really great crazy book. But I digress. I Loved loved this book. Not so much for the recipes, though I did take down notes of some of them. It was the story of her life and times that draw you in. The only thing that pissed me off about this book??? The footnotes. Although I congratulate an author for adding footnotes. I had to read them while holding a magnified glass. While also wearing my reading glasses, in low light this especially pissed me off. But other than that….I will not be satisfied util EVERYONE has read this book.
I think you will like this one and glad you read A Taste of Haida Gwaii, it’s a beautiful book. I’ll put Bachelor Brothers B&B on my list, thanks for the suggestion!
When the experience cookbook is done well, the effect is sublime. While I’ve enjoyed Frances Mays and others, most if not all the ones I’ve read up until now have been the book first, cookbook second. It seems as though this one is the cookbook first and the book second? The photography you’ve featured is absolutely magnificent: spare, yet elegant.
It’s definitely a big part of the book.
What an interesting idea. I have “camp cooked” since I was a kid but this is definitely taking it to a new place. I’ll have to look for the book.
It really is taking it to another level and I love the purpose too.
Wow! Sounds like an incredibly unique cookbook. I’d love to read about their experiences. They sound like they have the energy to help me remove my own clutter:_)
Haha they have infinite energy by the sounds of it!
What a cool story, and so proud that Canadians were involved!