In this new series, people from all walks of life share how they cook and eat every day in spite of life’s obstacles, from illness and inexperience to shoebox-size kitchens and hectic schedules. First up: truck driver Rob Booth. From curing bacon to making a cracking curry, eating well is his driving force – all from the compact cab of his articulated lorry
INTERVIEW: KERRY FOWLER
Nothing will stop me cooking.
When I started tramping – living out of your lorry on long-distance jobs – three years ago, I knew I didn’t want to live off takeaways. But when you go to a service station these days, you only have a choice of Burger King, McDonald’s or KFC; the old truck stops have been put out of business.
I started thinking about what I could make in the cab, planning what to cook each week. I have the digital version of delicious. and think: ‘I fancy that, but will the ingredients survive in the truck? What can I swap them with?’ That’s where Google is my best friend. (My other best friend is Louis, my dog – he shares the cab with me, always hopeful for a sausage.)
My cab has to be organised: I have a camping stove, a saucepan and a frying pan. There’s a fridge under the bed, a spices and staples cupboard, a microwave above the windscreen (I use it to heat rice) and a Remoska – a small stock pot with an electric lid – which I use to make lovely bread. I also have a mini food processor, great for making pesto or curry bases. And I’m sure I’m the only trucker in the UK who has a mandoline!
I used my small slow cooker for a lamb shank the other day. But I also heat up water in there for rinsing dishes – there’s no running water in the cab. Everything has a dual purpose, and I use a lot of hand sanitiser! When I’m cooking something where the smell lingers, I tend to do it on the catwalk – the bit between the cab and the trailer. It’s an ideal place, as the rain tends not to get in.
So, what do I cook? I’ve made Goan fish curry, scones, scotch eggs, goulash, sweet and sour tofu… I also now prepare food at home, freeze it, then add to it in the cab once it’s defrosted.
