Free Playa Food 101

StickyChron · Post by **StickyChron** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:49 am

Some people are worrying about how to prepare food, what to bring, ect ect. I say let them worry! This thread is dedicated to those of us who AREN'T bringing a BBQ or stove.

Basically, I'm going with the old standby, four words: will dance for food.

Throw a few Knock-knock jokes in there, a couple high fives/smooches, or maybe an exchange of material enlightenment for some ribs or something?

Food pirates unite!

StickyChron · Post by **StickyChron** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:53 am

Let me just put this out there, I love polls.

MyDearFriend · Post by **MyDearFriend** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:40 am

Dance away

I am still not cooking.

delle · Post by **delle** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:57 am

Will you be dancing with fire?

You may be the perfect alternative to me having to find a stove.

delle · Post by **delle** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:24 am

Actually.....

If the dance were frenzied enough.... and the whole dancing-with-fire experience level low enough....

you could BE the barbeque.

I'm thinking you could feed the whole block.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:05 am

yeah, 'cause I'm sure you're a great dancer, and people would love to feed you to watch.

and, there's the whole thing about polite people, having a hard time saying "no" when asked for something........even if they feel uncomfortable.

I suppose, in that light, it'll work fine for ya.
good luck with that.

Dr Helix · Post by **Dr Helix** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:17 am

StickyChron wrote:Some people are worrying about how to prepare food, what to bring, ect ect. I say let them worry! This thread is dedicated to those of us who AREN'T bringing a BBQ or stove.

Basically, I'm going with the old standby, four words: will dance for food.

Throw a few Knock-knock jokes in there, a couple high fives/smooches, or maybe an exchange of material enlightenment for some ribs or something?

Food pirates unite!

Three words: "no and no"

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:31 am

You'll have to do a lot more than that, at my camp. And it won't guarantee getting fed.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:32 am

guess you could always "dumpster dive" for meals.
Folks throw away some pretty good stuff at the large dumpsters out by the trash fence.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:49 am

Make one or more of these:
http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/
And let people cook what they want on them.
Surely you'll get some snacks in exchange.

StickyChron · Post by **StickyChron** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:59 am

BE the BBQ.

I'm definitely making that into a shirt. Thanks Delle.

Que a guy into what it WOULD take for some treats! (I actually am bringing food and a little propane stove, I just want to eat other peoples delicious foods too.)

EDIT: Tell me stories of things you have done/seen people do for something edible on the playa. Theres gotta be some great stories.

Post by **Savannah** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:18 pm

If you are gifted food, it's because:

* a camp is giving it away as an event, in which case you will either need to hunt it down or pass by at a lucky time, wait in line (anywhere from no waiting to up to an hour for Midnight Poutine), and have your own plate, cup & utensils. It's a good idea to pretty much always carry a few dishes--or at least a cup & fork--so you don't miss out. (The enterprising will often try to bribe their way to the head of the line, which is culturally acceptable, but not guaranteed to work.)

* a friendly neighbor has extra and is friendly/doesn't want it to go to waste.

* drive-by fruiting.

These things happen all the time, although counting on it is (of course) not recommended, so I'm glad you're bringing your own stove & food.

People are being terse with you because there actually are folks foolish enough to half-ass the food issue. (A friend of mine met an idiot at a regional who brought only a case of dry ramen and no cooking implements, 'cause he thought he could just trade for everything he needed.)

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:01 pm

My first gifted meal on the playa, on the year of my first burn, was indeed solar-cooked, a "veggie burger" had for simply walking by and accepting the gift.

Fufa · Post by **Fufa** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:27 pm

I met someone who brought nothing but a backpack of clothes and a tarp last year. He was a homeless drifter in his 20s who hitchhiked all the way from Victoria, then panhandled at the gates until he had the $360 to buy a ticket. I think he was the one mooch I didn't mind inviting for dinner. He didn't need to dance or ask for food either, just be the kind hearted sociable guy he was. I think I talked with him like an hour about Vancouver Island after I discovered he was from my hometown.

On another note, my boyfriend had to show his weiner for a weiner at I the Wigglin' Weenies camp.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:33 pm

Fufa wrote:> just be the kind hearted sociable guy he was

On another note, one of those panhandling drifters camped down the street from us. He was caught by two different people in our camp going through their coolers for food. Very nice guy, offered "to make it right," etc.

Post by **Savannah** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:40 pm

You are more forgiving than I.

Fufa · Post by **Fufa** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:47 pm

phil wrote:
Fufa wrote:> just be the kind hearted sociable guy he was
On another note, one of those panhandling drifters camped down the street from us. He was caught by two different people in our camp going through their coolers for food. Very nice guy, offered "to make it right," etc.

Given the size of the city, I will assume we're not talking about the same guy. Its unfortunate that you had to deal with that though. I've been lucky to not have had any theft problems so far.

MoonSplash · Post by **MoonSplash** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:15 pm

Sorry, but I'd be kinda pissed if you came up to me and said you wanted food for a song or dance because you thought it would be funny, as opposed to realizing the whole Self-Reliance motto here. Pissed as hell. Gifting food should be a gift, not a request. I volunteered last year at the Reno Airport to greet folks coming in, and it shocked me to see how many people walked up and said, "Where's the shuttle bus?", or had a tent and a backpack with no shade or food, or wanted to know how much cash to bring out there to buy food so what time did the food stands open? Seriously.

Foods I've been gifted: water, hot dogs, grilled turkey legs, soft ice cream, bacon flavored vodka, ice cold fruit, popsicles, raspberry wine to name just a few.

Foods I've gifted: ice cold mandarins, cocktail shrimp, steak kabobs, coconut and mango juices, cans of soda. Probably more than that, but that's what I remember handing out.

StickyChron · Post by **StickyChron** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:11 pm

All you cynical turds should come by my campsite and I'll whip up some spaghetti to ease those raw, jaded nerves. I call my invention Hippy Alfredo. Its spaghetti with soy sauce, olive oil, nutritional yeast, and fresh garlic/black pepper/salt.

I plan on eating lots of things that take no brain power to prepare, since I doubt I'll have much. Ribs and delicious meats however do take a bit of thought to prepare...I want my babyback babybac...nevermind.

Post by **Savannah** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 10:13 pm

I ain't cynical . . . I just don't want anyone singing at me for food.

I'm very picky about my tunes.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:17 am

And beat-boxers will be offered to death guild or otherwise disposed of.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:49 am

Okay. Come by the camp.

1. If we like your performance, we will feed you.
2. If we do not like your performance, we get to gut you like a fish and hang you on the camp wall.

Deal?

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:55 am

I knew it was a fucking hippie!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:01 pm

Barter should be an option for the sake of interactivity, but never a requirement. I'd be charmed if someone offered a song or a dance in exchange for something like a meal.

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:05 pm

There are so many camps out there that serve food that you could almost go the week traveling from one to the next. There's the French Crepe camp, which serve the best crepes you could ever imagine, opened everyday for breakfast. There's the Toasted Cheese camp, the cereal camp, the tuna guys camp, our camp that serves root beer floats, there's a camp that serves soft serve ice cream cones, and the list goes on...

StickyChron · Post by **StickyChron** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:22 pm

jkisha wrote:There are so many camps out there that serve food that you could almost go the week traveling from one to the next. There's the French Crepe camp, which serve the best crepes you could ever imagine, opened everyday for breakfast. There's the Toasted Cheese camp, the cereal camp, the tuna guys camp, our camp that serves root beer floats, there's a camp that serves soft serve ice cream cones, and the list goes on...

*Starts doing the can-can* Sooo...

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:16 pm

TomServo wrote:I knew it was a fucking hippie!

StickyChron · Post by **StickyChron** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:37 pm

PSH! Hippies don't eat ribs!?

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:29 pm

they do if they're free.

StickyChron · Post by **StickyChron** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:01 pm

Boijoy wrote:they do if they're free.

Touche. But we're not talking about these:

Free Playa Food 101

Will dance for BBQ?

Free Playa Food 101

Re: Free Playa Food 101