The Gourmet Girls began in 1996 in Santa Barbara, California as a couple of friends getting together for a potluck dinner and quickly grew into a diverse and dynamic group of women with discerning palates, sharing their culinary adventures. We have come together every year since then for the holidays, our annual gourmet camping trip, and our well-loved summer paella party. At each gathering, we br
ing mouthwatering dishes to share along with our laughter, our tears, our love of the outdoors and each other, as well as our mutual love of food. One fine day, as Gourmet Girls Gail and Denise were sitting at their perfectly curated picnic table in Big Sur, enjoying a delicious fire roasted meal, Gail announced, “I think we should write a cookbook!” It was an excellent idea, and we immediately set about making it happen. As campers we all know there’s nothing better than waking up in the woods to the sound of a babbling brook and birds chirping. Oh wait, yes there is, eating apricot-pecan pancakes with blackberry maple syrup. In this cookbook we aim to answer the age-old question, why not do both? Reap the benefits from years of experience: every burnt marshmallow, every soggy bit of lettuce, and every forgotten spice. Our soggy mistakes are about to become your culinary triumphs.
