Hi, I'm Tsukui, and I run "The Camping Lounge WAITER-U," a café in Shimokitazawa that's designed to feel like a campsite. We have many customers every day, and because of our location, a lot of them are young. Many are not hardcore campers but rather people who say things like, "I want to try camping someday," or "I just started recently," people who want to enjoy camping casually, or who just like looking at gear. So, when I talk to customers at the café, I often get asked questions about camping.
Solo Camping: How much food do you need?
Among the most common questions is,
"How much food should I bring for solo camping?"
My answer is always the same:
"It's probably best to get it there."
In fact, it's more fun that way, and your luggage will be lighter.
My Favorite Way to Find Ingredients at Roadside Stations
What I like best is researching roadside stations near the campsite in advance, waking up a little early in the morning, and getting ingredients there. Many of them close around 4 PM, so the key is to get there on time.
There, you can find fresh vegetables, meat, and things you'd never find in the city. I think getting those is the ultimate luxury. Finding vegetables grown by local farmers and specialties unique to that area is exciting, like a treasure hunt.
Decide the Menu on Inspiration
You can just decide the menu on the spur of the moment. Pick up a vegetable you wouldn't normally buy at a roadside station, like shallots, and think, "I'll make something with this." You can always look up a recipe later; it usually works out.
Just the other day, I impulsively bought some mushrooms I'd never seen at a roadside station. I wasn't sure how to cook them, but I tried making ajillo, and it was delicious. Discovering new ingredients is one of the true joys of camping.
Basic Rule: Get Ingredients Locally, When in Doubt, "Meat"!
The basic rule is to get ingredients locally. That's my solo camping food procurement strategy.
If you're really unsure, just buy some good meat locally and grill it; that's always a success. Camping always comes back to that. Even simply grilling it with salt and pepper is exceptional when cooked over charcoal.
Food Quantity: "Only What You Can Eat"
Regarding the quantity to buy, with solo camping, you tend to buy a lot because of anxiety, but it feels good to use everything up on the day of camping. There's no waste, and it reduces trash.
If you have leftover food, it's hard to take it home from a campsite without a refrigerator. I think it's just right to buy only what you can eat, and if you run out, buy more.
Emergency Food, Just in Case
If you run out, I recommend always keeping emergency food on hand for that time. Alpha rice, like Montbell's Risotta series, which you can eat just by adding hot water, is convenient. If you stash about three kinds, you'll be safe.
Once, I ran out of food during solo camping. At that time, the alpha rice I had as emergency food saved me. Being able to eat warm rice makes both your mind and body feel relieved.
Anything Tastes Delicious at a Campsite!
It's不思議 how even instant food, which might feel a bit lonely to eat at home after work, tastes absolutely delicious at a campsite. I think skillfully utilizing a little emergency food is more satisfying than buying a lot of ingredients and wasting them.
Food eaten in nature tastes many times better than usual. Coffee in the morning and marshmallows around a campfire are special tastes unique to the campsite.
"The Camping Lounge WAITER-U" is a Place for Camping Enthusiasts
At The Camping Lounge WAITER-U, I want to create a place where people who want to start camping, veteran campers, and various others can connect through camping.
If you ever have any problems with camping, feel free to ask me anytime. Let's enjoy talking about camping over a delicious coffee!
Thank you for your continued support!
