North Berwick-based Jerba Campervans is taking to the road to visit chefs near the location of their acclaimed venues, challenging them to create simple, inspiring dishes using just the Jerba’s in-built hob or hot-plate.
So far, top chefs including Maison Bleue’s Dean Gassabi and Mark Greenaway, chef proprietor of Grazing, have already accepted the challenge.
Both chefs were filmed while parked outside their restaurants’ respective settings at Victoria Street and the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian.
The innovative campaign is seeking to engage with more chefs around the country to demonstrate what is possible, both to owners of Jerba vans – and foodies across the country on the lookout for dishes by their favourite chefs that are both tasty and easily replicated at home.
The Jerba Campervan outside Grazing by Mark Greenaway. Picture: Jerba
Simon Poole, founder and director at Jerba, said: “Our Gastrotour is an idea that has evolved over time but that we’re incredibly proud to see come to fruition.
“Our owners surprise us with some frankly incredible concoctions in their vans – and frequently share the images with us and the wider community.
“We’re also big foodies here at Jerba and fortunate enough to be located in a part of the world blessed with amazing produce and seriously talented chefs.
“The next logical next step was to try to get some of the country’s best talents involved. Showcasing their skills, we hope the chefs will inspire both our foodie owners and the wider public on the endless culinary opportunities that come with cooking in a campervan.
“We weren’t sure how the chefs would respond to being taken out of the comfort and familiarity of their professional kitchens, but it’s proven to be a brilliant concept – and the end product is testament to the chefs’ talents.”
Simon and his wife Cath founded Jerba in 2006 after a decade of owning and hiring campervans all over the world, before deciding they could improve the design and overall user experience themselves.
The firm is now 15 strong – and recognised by Volkswagen as a registered vehicle body builder. The German manufacturer supplies Jerba with the skeletons of the vans, which it transforms into stylish homes on wheels, made individually to the customer’s specification.
