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This adventure chef from Islamabad likes to cook in the wild

While we can barely cook in the kitchen!
Updated 04 Jul, 2019

Cooking away from the comfort of a properly equipped kitchen is a tough job.

Given the lack of usual facilities and services combined with harsh terrain, why would someone want to cook in the wild? That's exactly what we wanted to know when pictures of Ahsan Arshad, a "self-taught adventure cook" started doing the rounds on social media.

Not too shabby
Not too shabby

When asked about what compelled Ahsan to pursue his dreams, particularly this dream, he shared, “Like in every desi household, it's often the case that whatever's for dinner or lunch, you take it or leave it. Ever since I was a child, I always wanted to eat a variety of different things which I enjoyed so I started trying out new dishes. It started with small items like eggs and sandwiches."

Scrambled eggs with a side of waterfall
Scrambled eggs with a side of waterfall

"My mom encouraged me, she never stopped me or disapproved of my cooking. In fact, she was the one who taught me initially. With time and thanks to the internet, I discovered more contemporary recipes and kept trying them.”

The inspiration for Ahsan to finally take the plunge dawned on him when he came across Al Meezan's YouTube cooking channel in which they go into the wild and cook different cuisines. With encouragement from family and friends who tasted his food, Ahsan started his own Youtube vlog and an Instagram account to share his journey with the world.

"You feel closer to nature, your human instincts, survival instincts, how they evolved and that self-reflection is a great feeling. Humans have two basic needs according to me: food and travel. It's almost therapeutic; depressed people are often advised to spend time in nature. And with good food, the effect is doubled."

Bet cutting onions in a gorgeous location like this won't make us tear up!
Bet cutting onions in a gorgeous location like this won't make us tear up!

So what does Ahsan like to cook and what drives him to the mountains?

"I'm mostly known for my burgers. I have a customized grill that I have to carry with me in order to make those.The time duration to make these is lesser than that of other food items, even though it has it's own challenges when you make it in the wild. In general, I like to focus more on fast food as it gets ready quickly. Mac and cheese burgers, classic beef burger, mushroom sauce burger and grilled chicken — you name it, I've made it."

Gotta say, we didn't get it at first but the pictures speak for themselves
Gotta say, we didn't get it at first but the pictures speak for themselves

His specialty is an onion ring burger concoction:

"I've also experimented with Italian and Chinese dishes. Some of the desi dishes I've prepared include Balochi raan roast, chicken hang roast and dumpukht which is a dish from KPK."

He reveals the hang roast was a big challenge.

"That take a lot of time; it's a slow cook which takes around 3-4 hours. Even though I try different things, chicken hang roast has to be the hardest thing I have made in the wild."

Like so many of us, the 25-year-old budding chef realised that while he had acquired a degree that was well-suited to the needs of highly competitive job market (he studied computer science), that wasn't where his heart lay.

“While studying, I realised that this isn't my passion and why not make my passion my profession so then I got more serious about adventure cooking; it has made all the difference and made me content. My current goal is to take tourists and thrill-seekers with me on these adventures. I'm in the process of starting my travel service, hiking to different places and cooking in the wild, I don't think anyone does that here in Pakistan. This way, people can come with and enjoy these beautiful landscapes and nature along with live cooking.”

That view though
That view though

Ahsan ultimately wants to open his own restaurant which we're guessing he's going to be well-equipped for by the end of it; the kitchen heat's got nothing on him when he's been out there cooking in the wild.

It's not so easy, he asserts.

“What I do is very different from working in the kitchen. A kitchen has more facilities and the wild obviously doesn't so you have to work with natural elements. The challenge is to select a suitable place, a dry place from where the fire doesn't spread. Grassy areas are NOT recommended. With the location comes the view, so you have to select a good view. When cooking in the wild, you strike fire using wood only or coal, you have to go looking for wood. The heat, smoke and wind cause problems and it's a bit difficult to handle. All this requires a lot of patience.”

"In the wild you have to craft the environment according to you needs, you learn with time. Sometimes, you get it right. Sometimes, you learn a lesson."

When asked if he's had any mishaps happen, Ahsan laughs and shares, “I went to a place called Jabri near Monal and Margalla hills. I decided to make some food there but was unable to light the fire because of the wind. I decided to use petrol which was a big mistake. The petrol bottle caught fire and a blast occurred and my beard caught on fire!

Woah, watch that beard!
Woah, watch that beard!

My friend was there and he helped me so we were all fine. But after that I became much more careful about any fuel to light fire."

Here's to taking the path less travelled and finding the strength to follow your dreams.

Comments

Owais Khan Jul 04, 2019 09:53am
Awesome work like it
Recommend
Hina Jul 04, 2019 09:58am
Just Wow !
Recommend
MA Jul 04, 2019 10:20am
Refreshing
Recommend
Naxalite Jul 04, 2019 11:24am
Keep up the good work!
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Jawaid Islam Jul 04, 2019 12:00pm
Bravo but very difficult to manage, confined space, one tilt and the whole ingredients gone. Nevertheless, the onion ring concoction looks delicious.
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ssqsqq Jul 04, 2019 12:05pm
different brains have different thoughts; different toungues like different tastes
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Jameel Jul 04, 2019 12:13pm
Please name the place where you are cutting onions?
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Siraj Ahmed Jul 04, 2019 12:17pm
Awesome work, its recommended by scholars to go always to the field in which one enjoys the life.
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Mb Jul 04, 2019 12:33pm
Too good
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Shampee Jul 04, 2019 01:03pm
looks great but I see so much garbage when people do cooking during hiking, trekking, need awareness campaign as well.
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Rabz Jul 04, 2019 01:06pm
Cool!
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azeez Jul 04, 2019 01:42pm
Ahsan saheb, try a rocket stove. You dont need to carry it. Simple to assemble from stones, wet mud or the blocks/bricks lying around. The key is to have an air inlet right at the bottom. Then an inlet above it for the fuel (wood, twigs, coal, paper). The cooking is done on top of the chimney. One can also add a layer above the chimney and get a brilliant oven. Check out youtube for rocket stoves in the wilderness.
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Laila Jul 04, 2019 02:22pm
Amazing. Why cant we have more stories like this. I dont know we have half these things happening in Pakistan because they never get a platform. Like female football team. Who knew. I feel so hungry from his nashta by the waterfall. It looks a lot like English breakfast. Must buy sausages next time I get groceries.
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Hassan Niaz Jul 04, 2019 06:25pm
That's incredible. Healthy stuff . Keep up the good work
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Awan Jul 05, 2019 09:24pm
I hope this dude doesn't start a forest fire!
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Laila Jul 06, 2019 05:53am
@Jameel Why don't you visit his Instagram and ask him directly? I don't think he is reading this articles comment section.
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Ahsan irshad Jul 06, 2019 10:09pm
@Laila i am reading the comments, and if one read the article, its clearly mentioned, that first task for me is to find a location from where there is no chance of spreading the fire, alhamdulilah i take all the measures. This is a responsibility of a responsible citizen.
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Awan Jul 07, 2019 06:46pm
@Ahsan irshad I am glad to hear that. I will show your videos to Martin Picard. Pretty sure he will be thrilled.
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Imtiaz Ali khan Jul 11, 2019 09:26am
Though I'm a vegetarian, but I respect all my non veg friends. This sounds fun to hang out with friends and cook. If I was there I would tell them make some veggies with chai and daal for their Sindhi Pakistani friend haa ha love you guys. I make some Thadal for them too if they are nice to me lol.
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