The art of the camp cooking with the Camp Oven King

Ron Wilson demonstrating camp oven cooking. Photos: supplied.

For the first time, Australia’s Camp Oven King will be coming to Esperance to teach people how to become camp food experts.

Ron Wilson, aka the Camp Oven King, has spent 30 years honing his craft of campfire cooking. It is a passion he said started when he was given his first camp oven and cook book at 16.

“I fell in love with the red dust and outback and pictures of big black pots,” he said.

After years of cooking camp food for friends and family at home in rural NSW, Wilson said his camp food innovation was too good not to be shared. And so, the Camp Oven King was born.

Now, Wilson said he has shared his expertise with camp oven cooks Australia-wide.

“I travel the countryside and teach people how to use their campfire ovens to cook delicious food,” he said.

“I know the mistakes people make, and I know the answers.”

Wilson said burning food was a common mistake made by amateur camp oven users, but in learning the craft of camp cooking, “you’ve gotta burn to learn”.

Ron Wilson will be holding camp oven cooking demonstrations at the Esperance Agricultural Show where he said he would be teaching everything from classic damper recipes to “crazy” one-pot meals.

“I like to inspire with interesting recipes,” he said

“I do all sorts of crazy combinations and it all works.”

Wilson said his list of winning recipes includes cappuccino flavoured damper, braised steak and onions with vegemite and golden syrup, and a beef and banana stew.

Audience members will have the chance to taste the Camp Oven King’s cooking during his demonstration at the show.

Scroll to Top