About Chef Glenn McAllister,
Food Dehydrating Expert & Author
There was a famous actor in the 70’s, Robert Young, who played the lead
in a TV series called, “Marcus Welby, M.D. Young’s trustworthy persona
endeared his character to prime-time audiences, and enabled him to star
in commercials as well. At the beginning of the commercials, just before
he recommended Sanka-brand coffee as an aid to sleep, he always said,
“I'm not a doctor, although I play one on TV.”
When I started
BackpackingChef.com in 2008, I similarly said, “I’m not a chef, but I
play one on the Internet.” I figured I would grow into the job.
With apologies to working chefs, I gave myself the trail name, Chef Glenn. My idea was that anybody could become a backpacking chef, and I imagined putting the title, Chef, in front of the first names of all the readers who mastered a few good recipes. Advancing from the kitchen, we could all don the chef’s hat and proudly raise our spoons over delicious meals on the trail.
In the eleven years since I took the first ninety dehydrated meals for a 315-mile test hike on the Appalachian Trail, my passion for developing backpacking recipes using dehydrated food has only grown.
Every month, I send out a newsletter, Trail Bytes, to over ten thousand subscribers. Each edition includes step-by-step instructions for making dehydrated meals.
Reader often write back:
Dear Chef Glenn,
What an awesome gift. Receiving your downloadable book made my day. I will be able to begin my dehydrating experience. Making meals for day hikes and longer backpacking will be a great winter project. Thank you again. -Ginger
THANK YOU so much for this. Passing on knowledge about stuff like this is invaluable! -Tra
This guide looks awesome, Glenn! Thanks so much. I also regularly share your newsletters with my hiking friends who do not yet know about you and encourage them to get your books and newsletter. –Abra
Chef Glenn, My sincere thanks to you for another year of superlative recipes and your wealth of experiences you provide us! -Jeff
Short Bio
I grew up in rural Morris County, New Jersey, in a neighborhood built on a former dairy farm. There were plenty of woodlots and streams for a boy to explore. My favorite topics in school were the sciences, but I was also attracted to business of the entrepreneurial sort. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, I settled in North Georgia, where I started several businesses.
Besides work, I served on the board of the Upper Etowah River Alliance. My primary role was leading hikes and canoe trips, but I also got certified as a Georgia Adopt-A-Stream water quality tester. When my kids were young, I was a frequent volunteer at school activities, and family-time included a lot of playing in the woods and rivers.
For the past nine years, I have lived in Switzerland with my wife, Dominique. I am blessed with two daughters and two granddaughters in Georgia, plus a loving second family in Switzerland. Dominique and I hike regularly – usually with a hot thermos meal made with healthy, dehydrated ingredients.
Chef Glenn & Dominique
Books by Chef Glenn McAllister
Recipes for Adventure: The Ultimate Guide to Dehydrating Food for the Trail
1001 Miles on the Appalachian Trail
The Menu Planning & Food Drying Workbook
The Action Guide: Dehydrating 31 Meals
Home & Trail: An Introduction to Drying Food
All of the above publications are available here at BackpackingChef.com. Recipes for Adventure and 1001 Miles on the Appalachian Trail are also sold on Amazon with 200+ reviews.
Chef Glenn McAllister in the News
Associated Press
This article was published in the Washington Post and numerous regional newspapers.
Eating well on the trail: Hikers dehydrate home-cooked meals
New York Times
Upscale Food and Gear Bring Campsite Cooking Out of the Wild
ScoutingMagazine.com
6 Backpacking Food Articles Introducing Food Dehydration to Scouts
Outside Magazine
Stop Wasting Money on Prepackaged Backpacking Food
Backpacker Magazine
How to Make Your Own Backpacking Meals
3 Perfect Ways to Upgrade Your RamenBlue Ridge Outdoors Magazine
A.T. Chef Dishes Tips and Best Backpacking Recipes
Seattle Backpackers Magazine
Unstuffing Mom's Stuffed Peppers
SectionHiker.com
Review of Recipes for Adventure
Hunt Backcountry Podcast
Interview with Chef Glenn: Do-It-Yourself Dehydrated Meals
Social Media
Media Inquiries
chefglenn@backpackingchef.com
RSS
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Dehydrating Tofu | Expert Advice from BackpackingChef
The three steps for dehydrating tofu are to freeze it, slice thinly, and cook in seasoned broth before drying. Learn how to dehydrate tofu that rehydrates well.
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Dehydrating Meat | Expert Advice from BackpackingChef
The secret to dehydrating meat so it rehydrates tender and not hard as gravel. Learn how to dehydrate meat including ground beef, ham, shrimp, tuna and more.
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How to Make Mashed Potato Powder
In this Meat & Potatoes Edition of Trail Bytes, I cover how to make mashed potato powder, and I share new gluten-free ways to prep ground beef for drying.
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Dehydrating Vegetables for Trail & Emergency Meals | BackpackingChef
How to dehydrate vegetables including potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, green beans, broccoli, cucumbers, spinach and more!
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Backpacking Desserts | 10 Best Recipes from BackpackingChef
These backpacking desserts satisfy your sweet tooth while boosting nutrition with dried fruits. Try the Trail Angel Cake with Strawberries and Chocolate Sauce!