Nearly every culture has its own method and approach to grilled or barbecued meat. It’s the perfect season to ditch your indoor kitchen in favor of some open-air cooking, so take a read to learn a little about three barbecue origins for some inspiration!
KOREAN BULGOGI
Korean bulgogi dates back to 37 BCE. The word bulgogi comes from the words “bul” meaning fire and “gogi” meaning meat. Bulgogi is typically the highest quality meat, often marinated for hours in a sweet and savory sauce before grilled on a barbecue or stovetop griddle. It’s commonly served with banchan or a variety of fermented side dishes. If you’re trying it yourself, we recommend using the Grill Burner in an IGT Four Unit Frame for a communal experience shared with friends.
JAPANESE YAKITORI
Originating in the Meiji period (1880s-90s) of Japan, yakitori translates to roasted bird. Fowl had become popular but was often expensive, so street vendors would use offcuts from restaurants. The skewers would then be barbecued and basted with a tare sauce. Yakitori is often grilled over binchotan charcoal, which can reach exceptionally high temperatures, quickly sealing the flavors. Try making yakitori for yourself using the Takibi Fire & Grill.
AMERICAN-STYLE
Barbecue in the United States varies by region. For instance, in Memphis, you might enjoy a barbecue sandwich with a sweet tomato-based sauce, while in Kansas City, you might have dry-rubbed ribs. North Carolina favors vinegar-based sauce, and Texas offers mesquite-grilled brisket. The origins of barbecue in the United States date back to colonial times, with roots in the Caribbean, where the indigenous peoples slow-cooked meat over an indirect flame. The Spanish colonizers referred to this method as barbacoa. Eventually, their methods were brought to the US, where they continued to evolve regionally for many decades. Whatever your preferred style, the Kojin Grill is the way to go!
Explore Snow Peak’s catalog of recipes for more outdoor cooking inspiration!
Let’s be honest: If you’re making and enjoying our camp cocktails during a long night by lantern light, you’re going to need a serious cup of coffee in the morning. So, we challenged Sunset assistant editor Magdalena O’Neal, who spent three years working as a barista across California (and “yelling at people about the power of a proper pour-over,” as she says), to create a caffeinated beverage easily made at any campground.
The result? A frothy, creamy, iced coffee that you’ll be craving long after you leave.
Campuccino
2 oz. coffee beans 1/4 cup heavy cream (or coconut cream) 1 tsp. brown sugar Makes 1 drink
Grind: Place coffee beans into a grinder and turn handle to grind.
Heat: Heat 1 cup of water in Snow Peak’s kettle.
Pour: While the water is heating, set up a filter in a coffee drip. Once water is hot, wet the filter with 1⁄4 cup of water and dispose of the water that drips through. Add ground coffee to the moistened filter and slowly pour remaining water over it, making sure to dampen all grounds. Let drip for a minute or two.
Shake: Fill a bottle with ice and pour coffee over ice. Add cream and brown sugar to the bottle and screw on the lid. Shake for 1 minute or until the bottle feels cold to the touch.
Serve: Pour the contents of the bottle into a mug and enjoy!
Get the Gear
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Snow Peak’s Field Barista Setcomes with a grinder, kettle, and collapsible coffee drip. $260
Yukio Yamai founded Snow Peak as a climbing equipment company and established deep connections with the metalworkers in his hometown of Tsubame-Sanjo. When the Snow Peak expanded into the camping industry, it maintained its commitment to craft.
No product line better embodies the spirit of metalworking craftsmanship than Snow Peak’s titanium line. The simple and elegant pots, mugs, tableware and utensils exemplify our design ethos and dedication to quality manufacturing processes.
Titanium is a notoriously difficult metal to work with. It does not easily flatten and requires a highly technical process. Fortunately, Snow Peak’s titanium collection was born in Tsubame-Sanjo, known locally in Japan as the metalworking capital for its storied history of finely craftsmanship.
The skilled metalworkers in Tsubame-Sanjo have generations of experiences and have perfected their practice. They not only understand the extremely finicky manufacturing process, but they also have the experience, intuition, and eye to detect even the smallest defect during production. Their expertise ensures machines are finely tuned for any adjustments that may be needed along the way. Snow Peak titanium products are unique in their enduring quality, beautiful finish and seamless construction.
Titanium pieces are often favored by backpackers for their ultralight qualities. However, Snow Peak designs each titanium item to be beautifully minimalist, so they easily integrate into day-to-day life. Titanium is corrosion-resistant and flavor neutral, making it a convenient and reliable choice for wherever adventure takes you.
Try this full-flavored recipe for your next Takibi Time! Po’Boy sandwiches have been served in New Orleans since the early 1900s, and are also made with oysters or catfish. This version of the sandwich combines spicy grilled shrimp with a refreshingly creamy remoulade sauce, topped with crunchy lettuce and tomatoes – all stuffed inside a sliced French loaf.
2 lbs raw medium shrimp (about 45), peeled, deveined and tail off
Canola or Vegetable oil
3 tbsp hot sauce
FOR THE SANDWICH
4 8 inch long French loaves split horizontally
Dill pickles for garnish
Shredded iceberg lettuce
Sliced tomatoes
METHOD:
Before starting any food preparation, it’s important to start your fire! To achieve a hot bed of coals, you’ll want to allow several logs to burn down. Alternatively, use the Coal Bed in your Takibi Fire & Grill, and fill to the top with briquettes. Whatever you decide, it’s important that your fireplace is full of hot, simmering logs or coals, and not large flames.
Once your fire is burning, it’s time to prep the ingredients. First, combine all the ingredients for the remoulade sauce in a bowl. Mix until combined, then cover the bowl and place inside the cooler to keep the sauce cold. Then, before preparing the shrimp, set your wooden skewers in a bowl of shallow water to soak. De-shell and devein the shrimp, coat them thoroughly and set aside. In another bowl, combine all the spices (black pepper, cayenne, salt and paprika), then spread the mixture over the shrimp until all are evenly coated. Place the seasoned shrimp on the damp skewers, then place on the grill.
Grill the shrimp until they’re perfectly pink, then remove from the grill and set aside. Once the shrimp are finished grilling, pull them off the skewers and begin to assemble the sandwiches. Spread the remoulade sauce over one half of the sliced French loaf, then add the shrimp and top with the lettuce, tomatoes and dill pickles.
Serve on a Tableware Plate, then enjoy! Explore all of our campfire recipes for more grilling inspiration.
When we consider objects that hold special sentimental value in our lives, what is it they have in common? Most of our cherished items aren’t new, shiny or in pristine condition. Rather, their value comes from the experiences, people or places they represent. When something becomes worn, loved and well-used, its importance inherently increases.
The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi has many interpretations but is grounded in an appreciation of imperfection. “Wabi” originally translated to reference the loneliness found in nature but evolved to mean a recognition of the beauty seen in simplicity. The word “sabi” refers to finding beauty in old age and the serenity that comes with time. The aesthetic is most apparent in mismatched combinations of old and new and an acceptance of flaws.
An aging object can take one of two paths. It can, as the overused cliché suggests – age like wine, becoming better with time, deepening in value and flavor. Or it can wither, break down and become completely useless.
Enduring quality is a core tenet of Snow Peak design, and few products exemplify it more clearly than the Takibi Fire & Grill. Fresh from the package, the grill and fireplace glimmer with a reflective shine. With each use the metal develops a deepening patina, often with beautiful color variation. There’s a special aurora to a well-used Takibi Fire & Grill, especially when you consider the memories and experiences represented in each mark. Time by the fire is the hallmark of outdoor gatherings and has a special way of reconnecting us to nature and one another. No two fireplaces look the same over time, but their performance and functionality remain unchanged.
At Snow Peak, we think of our products as outdoor heirlooms. Each one is made to withstand a lifetime of use – and can then be passed on to the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, continuing a tradition of valuing restorative experiences in nature.
As we enter the final month of the year, we’re taking time to reflect on highlights from 2021. For the first installment in our Best of 2021 Series, we’re examining ten top-rated products from the past year. Community feedback helps us innovate so we can continue to create elevated and rejuvenating outdoor experiences for you. We hope you enjoy reading what Snow Peakers had to say about some of their favorite outdoor essentials.
Wabuki Chopsticks
“The Wabuki Chopsticks feel high quality and solid, while also being lightweight and small. The steel with the brass and bamboo looks absolutely stunning. I’ve been using them almost every day, just quickly putting them together to eat, wash, and then take them apart to store. I would 100% recommend them to anyone who uses chopsticks daily.” – Cole R.
Takibi Fire & Grill
“We’re not experienced grillers or fire-starters, but wanted to have this item because we thought it would improve our fire cookout experience. Straight out of the box, it’s easy to assemble and feels sturdy, so there was no second-guessing about assembly when we used it the first time. (And obviously we washed the grill prior to first use. It’s a good size and so is the grill itself, and the quality is fantastic. Even after hours of smoky flames and us dripping glaze for our cooking over it, it cleaned up easily at the end of the night. It dumped out well, rinsed out without issue, and the grill was easier to scrub down than I expected. A really great set-up both for seasoned campers and for newbies who just want to try their hand at cooking with fire outdoors. We haven’t tried it with friends yet, but are looking forward to doing so!” -Bobbi V.
Jikaro Firering Table
“Snow Peak’s design is impeccable. They are a cut above any other camping products out there when it comes to camping furniture. The Jikaro Firering Table is easy to setup and take down. Snow Peak’s stainless steel is amazing. Strong and robust.” – Brandon S.
Titanium Aurora Bottle
“Beautiful bottle, I use it for hiking, backcountry camping, and generally anytime I’m out for an extended period of time. It’s just the right size for travelling light, and doesn’t leak at all no matter how much it gets tossed around. Super lightweight, and lovely to look at!” -Stephanie T.
Alpha Breeze
“I spent months exploring and testing four-person tents from various manufacturers. There is no shortage of options when you need a quality two-person or three-person, but once you step up to a four the options are slim. Of the dozen or so I tested this is simply the best. Incredible ventilation. Easy set up and break down (some tents I tested had poles over 12 feet long and infeasible in tight camping situations), all doors and windows zipper shut (not the case with the best alternative I tried), nice ceiling height. There is nothing frankly I would change. This tent is large enough to host a family of four + pets without being cramped and yet never seems unwieldy or excessively large at the same time.” – Adrian P.
Shimo Stein
“It’s a perfect size and keeps my drink cold for a long time!” – Masakazu I.
Solid Stake #30
“As everything Snow Peak does these stakes are well built, have real weight and are very functional. Got two different sizes for soft or firm terrain and makes setting up my tent a lot easier.” -Juan B.
Trek 900 Titanium
“I decided to buy the Trek 900 to compliment my cooking set (the 3 piece cooking set), I needed a light weight cup with a lid to make my cooking easier. So far the Trek 900 has suited my needs. It is light-weight and sturdy. I will continue to buy from Snow Peak for my cooking gear as long as I am able to work in the backcountry!”
Take! Renewed Bamboo Chair
“Even when we’re not camping, we keep this chair in our car for any impromptu opportunities to sit, relax, and take in the outdoors.” – Tyler W.
Floga
“If you own a Takibi Fire & Grill, please do yourself a favor and buy this! It makes the campfire look incredible and helps tremendously with managing the smoke. Gone are the days that you’re dodging the smoke from the campfire. 100% recommended!” -Kristoffer A.
By Erin McGrady and Caroline Whatley From Men’s Journal
One of the keys to a long and healthy life is being able to relax. Ironically, with the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 from health to economic worries, extra downtime spent adhering to social distancing best practices doesn’t necessarily equate to more relaxation. Once you tire of watching Netflix, we recommend something more primitive and unplugged to find some rejuvenation and restoration: a bonfire. For now, it’ll have to be with your closed circle of family members and roommates only. Which is fine, you can still reap the benefits of open flame and take the opportunity to perfect what some would say is a dying art: the ability to truly hang out, sans technology, and make conversation. Allow us to introduce you to the idea of takibi time—with some guidance and a few gear goodies to hone your campfire etiquette.
First off, “takibi” means “bonfire” in Japanese. Takibi time is quite simply the act of gathering together around a good fire. Like most of life’s greater indulgences, there’s a bit of a ritual involved (think: ground and brewed coffee, or a hand-crafted Manhattan). And as you know, the finer things in life all start with quality ingredients. A quality bonfire is no different. That said, there’s more to just making a fire and hanging out by one. There’s also a good bit of responsibility that goes into building a campfire. Here are our top tips on campfire etiquette.
Campfire Etiquette
Obey a Burn Ban
For starters, if there’s a burn ban in effect, do not start a fire. Period. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have nor how much water you have on hand. When a burn ban is in effect, it is meant to be obeyed for everyone’s safety. Don’t be responsible for a forest fire. We can’t stress this one enough.
Stay With Your Fire
Of almost equal importance to obeying a burn ban is making sure that you never leave your campfire unattended. Don’t expect your campsite neighbor to keep an eye out on your campfire while you run to the shower. Don’t expect your 8-year-old child to manage your fire. If you build it, take responsibility for it, monitor it and make sure it’s completely out by the time you go to bed or leave your site.
Keep Your Fire Clean
One of the most common newbie camper mistakes is thinking of a campfire like a trash can. It’s not. Refrain from throwing food waste, beer bottles or cans, plastic, etc., into your fire. Not only will throwing things into your fire potentially attract wildlife, but the ensuing smell and smoke may ruin the experience of other nearby campers.
Keep Wood Local
Almost every campsite that allows campfires will have wood for sale. Buy it on-site rather than bringing your own. Doing so reduces the risk of introducing new insects and disease and helps keep forests healthy.
Campfire Gear
Now that you’ve got some of the basics of campfire etiquette in mind, let’s move on to gear. This is where it gets fun. While a lot of public campsites have their own fire pits, some don’t. And if you’re like us, sometimes you may want the ability to build a campfire at home, in your backyard, in a friend’s field, or at a remote spot on public lands. It’s always best to check whether or not a fire is permissible before building one, but if you get the green light, we recommend some of the following Snow Peak gear, all lifetime guaranteed to help you relax into takibi time. After all, takibi time is both an art and a science—a skill worth honing.
Takibi Fire and Grill
For starters, you’re going to need the Takibi Fire and Grill. It’s portable, comes with its own canvas carrying bag, packs down flat for easy storage and can be set up in a couple of minutes. It’s made with 1.5 mm–thick chrome coated steel which makes it durable and long-lasting. Plus the Fireplace Grill Bridge can easily be raised and lowered to meet your culinary needs. Sure it’ll cook up a hot dog, but set your sights a little higher and bring something from the local butcher. We have firsthand knowledge that you can grill an incredible pork chop on this setup.
This little device by Snow Peak is a great accessory to the Takibi Fire and Grill because it packs down small, is super powerful (it’ll dry a piece of wet firewood in less than 10 seconds) and is fun to use. Plus it’s functional. Once you light a fire with this, you won’t want to go back to any other method.
This set includes a shovel (you’ll need this to help you properly extinguish a fire), poker and fire tongs. The carrying case is sturdy and keeps everything organized rather than rattling around in the back of your truck. The tools themselves are of the highest quality and are a good match for the robust fire pit you’ll be using them on.
This table is for the Takibi time enthusiast who wants to increase their communal space around the campfire. The table is light enough and portable enough that it makes sense to bring it to any car camping adventure. It’s also good-looking enough to be kept on display at home on your back porch or patio. We think it makes a handsome addition to any campfire experience. The only thing missing is a hand-crafted cocktail to set upon it and a few of your closest friends.
At Snow Peak, we’re true believers in the restorative nature of Takibi Time. We feel that the most meaningful connections can be discovered through the simple act of gathering together around a good fire, even if you’ve only ventured out to your backyard or patio. Here, we show you just how easy it is to create your own Takibi scene and restore a little humanity in the process with our iconic Takibi Fire & Grill.
Before you get started, watch our video for the step-by-step process of setting up your Takibi Fire and Grill.
Lighter, matches, or Folding Torch (See Folding Torch Method at end)
Step 1: Crumple several sheets of recycled newspaper into a ball and set at the bottom of your fireplace.
Step 2: Gather up kindling. It will help ignite the fuel logs later in the process.
Step 3: Arrange your kindling three or four layers high in alternating sets of three directly on top of the newspaper.
Step 4: Carefully ignite the newspaper and add a few more layers of kindling to the fire.
Step 5: Stack two new layers of wood logs, two by two, and allow them to burn in a controlled manner.
Step 6: Continue building on the fire by adding in additional wood logs as needed.
Step 7: Leave enough space for airflow and allow the wood logs to slowly burn.
Step 8: Monitor, and safely stoke fire, adding some additional wood logs as desired.
Step 9: Enjoy your Takibi time! Bonus points if you invite your friends to join you.
Step 10: Allow the fire to completely burn before attempting to extinguish. When you’re finished, completely drown out the fire with water.
Step 11: Make certain that all wood logs and embers have been extinguished. Never leave a smoldering fire unattended.
FOLDING TORCH METHOD
As an alternative method for starting your Takibi time, we recommend using the Snow Peak Folding Torch. This powerful tool provides small concentrated flames which easily lights kindling at the bottom of your fireplace. Point the nozzle and burn wood evening until you hear it crackle at which point you know the fire will take off on it’s own. Slowly add larger logs in alternating directions to help fire grow.
This week, Martina Brimmer, co-founder of Swift Industries, shared her tips and tricks for new bike campers. If you’re dreaming of remote trails, epic views, and backcountry adventures, read on for everything needed to get you started.
PICK YOUR GEAR
As with any outdoor excursion, the proper gear is key! Martina recommends packing a shelter (a tent, tarp, or hammock), a ground pad, and a sleeping bag.
Equally as important to your shelter and sleep setup is your kitchen kit. We’ve added a few of our own recommendations to her list!
Cutting board out of food-grade plastic
Knife – try the Field Knife with its included sheath.
Spork – as Snow Peakers know, nothing beats the Titanium Spork!
Pot and pan – the Trek 900 is the perfect solution!
Backpacking stove and fuel – try the GigaPower Stove Auto and GigaPower isobutane.
Coffee kit – add the Collapsible Coffee Drip and some filters to your pack, and you’re all set!
Mug for both eating and drinking – use the Ti-Single 450 Cup for any beverage or mug meal.
PACK UP
Lightweight adventurers know the importance of creative packing. Waste no space! Martina says pre-packing strategizing is key.
“Think of your empty spaces first. Use the soft stuff like socks, leggings, and your puffy jacket to fill in the area around hard goods, like mortar between bricks. Put your fuel canister in an empty cook pot, then utilize the rest of that dead space with something soft, like socks or your kitchen rag. A tent can be attached to the top of the rear rack to leave space inside your touring bags for weather-sensitive provisions. A little mindfulness goes a long way: put sensitive gear like down sleeping bags and electronics in seam-sealed bags.”
She recommends packing your gear in the order of use. Group your items needed for the evening together, and leave your gear for the day in an easy-to-reach section. Lastly, shrink items as much as you can! Consider each piece of gear and whittle down non-essentials.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE AND BE PREPARED
Avoid getting lost with proper pre-trip planning! Martina suggests starting with an old-fashioned paper map, then cross-referencing with Google Maps for cycling to your destination.
“Start by plugging in your destination and toggling to bicycle mode in Google Maps, then fine-tune the suggested route. Quiet roads are sure to impress, so when you’re planning, maximize those digital maps to reveal the backroads that every traveler longs for. Try roads with old in the title. “Old Woodinville-Duvall Road” has likely been replaced by a larger, more heavily trafficked thoroughfare, leaving the grandparent highway underused and laid back (though sometimes also a little more rolling).”
Local knowledge is top-notch but be wary of tips from folks who have only driven the stretch of road. Another important factor to consider is your daily mileage. Martina recommends 45-50 miles per day, but less is fine too! Weather, road conditions, and other factors will have an impact.
“Keep in mind that 50 miles of flat roads with a heavenly tailwind are very different than 50 dirt miles over mountain passes. Sometimes a day’s distance is predetermined by the distance between your chosen campgrounds, and you may have to pull a long day in the saddle to make it into camp.”
PLAY IN NATURE
Last but certainly not least, embrace all that the backroads have to offer. Take a swim in a river or lake, pause to listen to the birds or watch the wildlife, wake up early to watch the sunrise. These are the magical moments that get us out there. Reconnect with the rhythms of nature, wherever the road takes you.
Martina says, “It’s all about tuning in and dropping out. Start paying attention to where you are in the moment and walk away from the daily grind to get perspective and reorient yourself. The magic of bike-camping is that it’s equal parts going there and getting there.”
For more helpful bike camping tips, check out Swift’s blog or RSVP for one of the activations taking place during the Swift Residency at Snow Peak Portland.
Bikepacking 101: Learn what to bring and how to load your bike.
We are excited to kick off July by spending the afternoon with Rie Sawada (@charries_cafe) and @hiheyhellomagazine, learning more about the essentials of bike-packing and how to load up for your next adventure on two wheels.
Rie Sawada toured Europe, setting up pour-over coffee stations, sharing the joy of coffee, and cyling with new friends. Rie spends a lot of time exploring and camping on her bike and will be sharing her bikepacking essentials, a packing list, and tips on how to load your bike to adventure on two wheels. The event will be informal, attendees will be able to ask questions.
Copies of HiHeyHello Magazine will be available for purchase. Beverages and light snacks provided. Limited to 30 attendees due to COVID-19 protocols.
Details:⠀ RSVP HERE Thursday July 1st, 2021 from 5-7p.⠀ @snowpeakportland Flagship Store on 404 NW 23rd. Ave.⠀
Subscribe or check back here for more great info on Snow Peak and bike packing basics.
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