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 interest in developing backpacking recipes using dehydrated food continues to grow.

Every month, I send out a newsletter, Trail Bytes, to over eleven 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 Ramen

Blue 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

Facebook: Backpacking Chef

Media Inquiries

Contact Chef Glenn McAllister

chefglenn@backpackingchef.com

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