Road Trips + Outdoor Cooking = Bonding Experience
Everyone deserves a break from COVID! These months-long quarantine is beginning to stress me out from not being able to drive and eat out with family and friends – the two things I love to do and that definitely spells having a bad case of the COVID blues. And so I turn to my daily dose of doing facebook (only because I need to be rescued from K-Drama binge-watching) and that’s when my eyes caught these thought-provoking images from a Facebook post of a foodie & car loving friend. They were so inviting I wanted to jump right into my monitor and eat that steak under the clear blue sky while relishing that Covid-free fresh air. I felt my stress-level going down just by the thought of doing so. I just had to know the story behind these images so I prodded Winston (a true Car & Chow guy) to tell us about his experience.
Sophie: Why and how did you plan these road trips?
Winston: To fight cabin fever during GCQ (General Community Quarantine) and to scratch my driving itch! In doing so, I make it a point to drive somewhere interesting every weekend to have fun but keeping in mind to always observe health safety protocols, by choosing a deserted destination, always sanitizing my hands and wearing a mask.
Sophie: What did you drive in these trips?
Winston: I have been a classic sports car person for some time now but recently I acquired a 2020 Suzuki Jimny GL (manual). For these two road trips I made, I wanted something light, seriously off-road capable, affordable and something fun! Yes it can be a bit bouncy on bumpy roads but on smooth roads, it is comfortable and handles well. It is very light and zippy. I was into mountaineering when I was younger and the Jimny somehow satisfies my longing for adventure. Unlike a sports car, it is not as fast but it can go anywhere:)
Sophie: Tell us about your trips.
Winston: On my solo Taal trip, I pried myself out of bed very early, packed breakfast and drove off while the sky was still dark indigo. I was debating whether to go East (Tanay) or South ( Batangas, Tagaytay). South won, so I drove to Tagaytay. The drive was very pleasant, since it was still very early and I guess many of the usual Sunday breakfast crowd were not willing to face Covid risk. Once at the Tagaytay ridge, I drove down to Taal lake and proceeded to scout for a spot with a good view, where I can park and quietly enjoy my breakfast. I ended up at a boat storage facility, with a big patch of greenery by the lake side. I asked permission from the care taker to camp for a while and I’m very thankful she approved. I stayed for a good 3 hours enjoying the beautiful scenery, cooking / eating breakfast and enjoying music with a freshly brewed cup of coffee in hand. I was even able to sneak in a short nap. Ahhh, the simple things in life are always the most pleasurable.
On my Tarlac trip with son and friends . On our way to Monasterio de Tarlac (San Jose, Tarlac) there were a few good kilometers of new sweeping, fast winding roads, flanked by picturesque rice fields leading up to the Monastery. Too bad we were not able to reach the Monastery, since we were denied access by a check point. So we turned around and headed to Clark picnic grounds, where we enjoyed a nice meal, cooked on the spot. The shade from huge, centuries old acacia trees plus a light breeze made our picnic even more enjoyable.
Sophie: And now for the CHOW portion… I have known you to be a serious gourmet food enthusiast and the food images you took in these road trips look amazing. Tell us about this culinary part of your road trips .
Winston: I am a culinary enthusiast, so I try to pack good food on trips and avoid just buying from fast food joints. For a person who loves cooking, it’s an enjoyment not an inconvenience. For our Tarlac trip for example, I made sure I brought the basic outdoor kitchen equipment , tools, and ingredients because I was looking forward to preparing breakfast and cooking lunch outdoors with my son and his friends.
For my solo lakeside breakfast, it was very simple—hand-brewed Ethiopian Coffee , Pan-Toasted Homemade Sourdough Bread with Organic Strawberry Jam.
For lunch during the Tarlac / Clark trip, we had Australian Angus Ribeye Steak, Fusilli Pasta with Ricotta / Tomato Sauce and French Beans to lessen the guilt:) .
Sophie: What can you say about food as an integral part of this bonding experience?
Winston: Driving stimulates our visual, tactile and aural senses. Enjoying good food stimulates the other two remaining senses – olfactory and taste.
Food is not something just to satisfy hunger. It brings people together, causes them to interact. Food lets us experience culture and terroir.
Food and motoring are intertwined. We even often use food as an excuse to drive far. Don’t we?
Sophie: Can you share your tips on how to better enjoy an activity like this?
Winston:
1. If you’re planning to do some outdoor activity, make sure to check the WEATHER FORECAST. This may sound basic but it’s essential especially if you prepared well for a picnic only to be ruined by inclement weather.
2. PLAN YOUR ROUTE as best as you can but don’t be afraid to deviate and explore new places along the way.
3. If you are going somewhere far, make sure you HAVE THE REST OF THE DAY FREE. It will stress you out if at the back of your mind, you know you need to be back at a certain time.
4. A WELL-PLANNED PICNIC MEAL !!!
Thank you Winston for sharing your story through this interview and your photos! We at Cars & Chow look forward to your next escapades!
4 Comments
Leave your reply.