Burn to Eat – Food & Drink at Burning Man

To accurately describe Burning Man is impossibly futile. The majority of non-“burners” will have a preconceived image of a bunch of white hippies doing drugs in a desert around a wooden sculpture. Millennials will compare it to Coachella and have Instagram envy. Burning Man is not a “festival”. It’s so much more than an “8-day rave” (although it is the best party city on the planet). Burning Man is a community, a temporary city, a global cultural movement based on 10 principles dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. It’s a de-commoditied space that values who you are, not what you have. Burning Man offers an indescribable feeling of freedom, celebrates love, open-mindedness, confidence, and total self-reliance. Does this give you a clearer picture of what Burning Man is? Probably not. The truth is, it really can’t be explained, because Burning Man is what you make it. It’s a surreal, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and beyond all the stereotypes, there truly is something for everyone.

The beauty of Burning Man is participation. Every year, tens of thousands (70,000 in 2018!) of people all over the world make the pilgrimage out to the Black Rock Desert in Northern Nevada for the week-long event. The temporary metropolis city is built around a gifting economy where every inhabitant is expected to collaborate and actively participate as a citizen of Black Rock City. No buying, no bartering (another common preconception) – only giving. This can be done by volunteering, joining a themed map, art etc, or through FOOD!

One of the primary concerns of any “virgin burner” (after sleep, dust, and how hot they look in their costumes) is “will I starve?”. I can tell you this much: you won’t! No need to stock up on the trailmix and oatmeal (you should still pack some though). If you’re doing Burning Man right, you will not ruin your experience by hangry yearning for a real meal. Contrary to what many may think (avid burners included), food is a huge part of Burning Man. Like any city, Burning Man has its own culinary culture. In fact, my favorite words to describe “the Burn” come from late founder Larry Harvey himself, defining it as “a big family picnic.”

So how can a week-long picnic come about when it’s in the middle of a desert, i.e. with no running water nor electricity? Firstly, everyone must bring their own ingredients, cooking supplies, generators (optional), gallons of water, and storage methods. Only two items are sold on-site at “base camp”: coffee and ice. One must be self-reliant for everything else – “If you forget something vital, your best bet is to make friends with your neighbors”, as per the Burning Man website’s FAQ section. But there are also several food themed camps, supper clubs (some VIP and private) and communal kitchens that bring this crazy-ass family picnic to life!

Burning Man‘s temporary food and drink “establishments” require planning and a whole lot of selfless generosity, but also entail a permit from the Nevada State Division of Health.

Food gifting is a beautiful part of Burning Man, and exploring culinary camps is one of the many fun Playa activities, with a surprising variety of (fully non-sponsored / non-branded / non-advertised) pop-up restaurants, snacks, bakeries, and bars hidden at every corner of this dusty No Mans Land. Some are in specific themed camps, others are mobile “art cars” and the best ones surprisingly pop up in the middle of the Playa when you least expect it. Whether you actively look out for a specific food camp or luckily stumble upon one on your bike ride, it will feel like finding an oasis in a desert – literally!

It’s a different burn every year and for everyone, but here’s a sneak peak of what this unique “family picnic” can look like:

)'( The most impressive food camps )'(

♦ The French Quarter:

The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in Black Rock City and by far the most “impressive”, at least from a foodie standpoint. I missed it on my first burn (the BM wind did not take me there ) but went there almost daily on my second. Like all camps, it has a different location each year, but is most often close to Center Camp. The village is composed of various theme camps, each of which is devoted to a particular immersive experience, such as mixing cocktails, performing live music, baking breads and pastries, doing massage and bodywork, making and storing wine, crafting custom soaps, home-brewing beers, roasting coffee, cooking gumbo, practicing meditation… you know, just to name a few! Every year hundreds of volunteers build this incredible New Orleans inspired village with pastel color facades and super fun playa activities. Just like in Nola, get your coffee at Cafe de la Fin du Monde, chill with some live Jazz music, go wine tasting at the Black Rock Wine Cellar (one of my favorite hang out spots). The very best and MUST stop is the Black Rock Bakery. Twice a day, the bakery makes different incredible French pastries from scratch. We’re talking éclairs, cookies, quiches, chocolate mousses, you name it – and they are unbelievable. This is a legit high-quality bakery and the most impressive food camp of Black Rock City, baking over 5000 pastries in one magical week!

Borrowed a wine glass from the Wine Cellar to wait in line for the bakery’s pastries

Volunteer pastry chef making toasted marshmallows

Incredible fresh cookies straight out of the oven: desert-dessert bliss!

Volunteer pastry chef making éclairs – in the scorching desert heat!

Also some savory baked goods like this goat cheese quiche!

Maybe the best tasting cookie I’ve ever had – desert starvation not taken into account

Nothing less than a (mushed) passion fruit éclair – delicate, refined ingredients, and incredibly delicious

Behind the kitchen scenes

My favorite Happy Hour spot – wine tasting at Black Rock Cellar

Wine tasting in real wine glasses! Who said Burning Man wasn’t luxury?

Pork Roast prep for that evening’s French Quarter wedding!

Happy Hour-ish

♦ Dust City Diner

2018 was the 10^th playa anniversary of Dust City Diner, another Black Rock City culinary staple! In 2008, for the “American Dream” theme, a group of Californian artists created the Dust City Diner, a ‘40s style American diner in the form of “art car”. Ever since, it has remained one of the coolest food carts, and the best thing you can ever come upon when you least expect it in deep Playa. Red leather stools, neon-style sign, and chrome finishes, this is the real diner deal! Serving up bottomless coffee, pancakes, grilled cheese and a whole lot of sass, Dust City Diner has become an iconic Burning Man establishment for the past decade (also thanks to the help of their Indiegogo – non corporate – fundraising).

Dust City Diner prep – @dustcitydiner Instagram

Dust City Diner prep before the Burn – sass already on point! (@dustcitydiner instagram)

Dust City Diner like a desert oasis when you least expect it – photo cred from my awesome friend @pellegrino_clandestino

Breakfast egg sandwich? yes please!

♦ Spoonful of Friends

Who would have thought you can have a seated tasting-menu dinner at Burning Man! Spoonful of Friends is a camp founded by a mix of San Francisco and Parisian foodies. Their art is cooking and hosting friends, and they’ve brought it all the way to Black Rock Desert. Spoonful of Friends organizes French “apéro” and a 3-course dinner for 50-60 every night! To be part of this French feast, all you need is to stop by during the day and sign up for that evening’s dinner. And as if that wasn’t impressive enough, you can also spend your day meditating in their dome or participating in their day time activities of art, healing sessions etc.

Spoonful of Friends Camp

)'( More baked goodies )'(

♦ French Toast

To wake up and be a short bike ride away from freshly baked french toast is pure breakfast bliss – made daily!

Friendly and perky breakfast staff

Small bites to snack on while you wait in line for the real thing

A whole slice of French Toast all to myself, maple syrup included!

♦ Freshly baked cookies

Vegan oatmeal cookie from Pink Heart Camp on Esplanade

Dusty Bunz Bakery

)'( Day Time Favorites )'(

♦ Spaghetti Burrito

Spaghetti Burrito is a themed camp that was born out of a genius late-night playa craving/invention. It’s as simple as it sounds: spaghetti in a burrito, served in a camp full of talented spurrito (I just made that up) chefs. It started out a few years ago on the last days of Burning Man week, when a camp (a different one at the time) ran out of plates, so Caleb (pictured below) decided to use tortillas as plates in which spaghetti would be served #genius. And the rest is spaghettistory.

Caleb – Genius Founder of the Spaghetti Burrito

The stunning Esther representing Spaghetti Burrito camp in 2018

Logo: yup, just spaghetti – in a burrito.

Spaghetti Burrito in the making

Spaghetti Quesadilla works too!

♦ Hot Dogs

Hot Dogs are one of the most popular playa eats you will find at several camps. It’s easy to transport, store, and to satisfy!

Hot Dogs & Deviled Eggs served with style

♦ Pizza

The longest lines for day-time eats are always for pizza. These delicious wood-fired pizza are made fully from scratch (dough included!) and served with your choice of toppings!

♦ French Fries

Another popular one are these warm and crispy fries! Long lines daily.

Served with ketchup & smiles

♦ Tacos, Burritos & Quesadillas

Tex-Mex en la Playa! The most popular food to come by in Black Rock City are tacos and quesadillas: they’re quick and easy to make and hit the spot every time!

Warm cheese quesadilla ready to be served

Even better if paired with Bloody Marys!

Tiny vegetarian burrito

♦ BBQ & Grills

Like a true “family picnic”, grilling is a popular Burning Man community activity, whether it be cooking a meal with your campmates, a spontaneous playa gift, or a Playa wedding celebration dinner.

Gifting breakfast sausages Deep Playa after the sunrise philharmonic performance

Camp BBQ at Dusty Booty Ranch

♦ Falafel

Every year, you’ll find a handful of Israeli camps gifting delicious falafel, with creamy hummus made from scratch.

Fully equipped! Delicious falafel gifting – Burning Man 2017

The finished product

Falafel at Tierra Bomba camp

Israeli camp Hope Hummus made homemade hummus daily, served warm paired with Bloody Marys!

♦ Ramen

Another popular food destination is the Ramen camp, for which there is constantly a huge line. I’ve never had the patience to wait for one though. The picture below is of a day-time one but who wants ramen in 100-degrees weather?

Ofosho Ramen

)'( Late night favorites )'(

♦ Spanky Pizza

Get a late night pizza against a spanking! #winwin? You get to choose if you want to be the spanker or spankee (i.e. be the giver or receiver of the spanking) – Burning Man never discriminates!

The post-spanking reward

Behind the pizza making scene

You get to choose the spanking weapon

♦ Midnight Poutine

An iconic late night favorite! Every year, hundreds of burners line up for this midnight decadent treat, coming straight from Montreal to Black Rock City.

Legit Canadian Poutine – will save your Playa hangover

)'( The most refreshing )'(

Hydration is the most important survival guide priority. Burning Man’s official site recommends drinking at least 1.5 gallons of water per day. Dehydration is the biggest danger during the day-time heat, so these playa gifts are the most welcome:

♦ Snow Cones

I usually don’t care for snow cones (boring sugar intake), but in the scorching desert heat it’s the perfect sweet refreshment, and one of the most common Playa food gifts (at least from my experience). You’ll find several snow cones stands, with different syrup flavors and even some with booze (ID required).

burning man food unicorn snow cone burner girl

Snow Uni-Cone 😉

The prettiest snow cone with sprinkles!

One of the many consumed snow cones

♦ Fresh lemonade

Along with coconut water, freshly squeezed lemonade is the most refreshing drinkable day-time playa gift.

Adorable fresh lemonade served at a bike stand by The Man

My daily pit-stop – fresh-squeezed lemonade, served cold every day

♦ Coconut Water

Coconut water should be a must-have on every burner’s survival kit! There is no better desert hydration than coconut water (and super convenient since no refrigeration is necessary).

Served in an actual coconut and with a big smile

Ice cream bliss

This is obviously a crazy popular one. Finding ice cream in the middle of Black Rock Desert rhymes with euphoria. A handful of camps will gift ice cream on a daily basis, most often during prime-time heat hours. The home-made ones are frozen on the spot with liquid nitrogen, and some are even vegan! Pink Heart camp would gift coconut milk ice cream every day (along with ice cold cucumber water), and would conveniently be located on Esplanade. There is almost always a line for the frozen treat but it’s so worth it – ice cream really never tasted so good.

Coconut Milk Ice Cream cone at Pink Heart

Daily pit stop at Pink Heart Camp for this vegan ice cream cone

Scooping homemade ice cream frozen on the spot with liquid nitrogen – Burning Man 2017

Always a line for this small scoop of bliss

You can also get gifted industrial pre-made drumstick ice cream

♦ Fresh Fruits

Fresh fruits are what I crave the most in the desert heat. I would try to make it to the organic fruit camp almost daily after my playa coffee. Different types of seasonal fruits and veggies are brought to Black Rock City from organic California farms with provisions for every day of the week

Daily display of organic fruits

Help yourself to fresh organic fruits

Drying out the fruit peels

All organic, local (ish) lol and seasonal

Re-fuel with Vitamin-C!

Awesome playa gift while partying at dawn at Robot Heart

♦ Booze

And last but not least, the booze! There are obviously a bunch of “Playa bars”, but contrary to what people may think, getting drunk is not really a big thing at Burning Man (mostly because of dehydration risks, limited porta potties and to be completely factual, some burners favor other types of party favors – or so I’ve heard!). Black Rock City, just like any city in the US, abides by the Nevada State law, which means ID is required (and actually asked for) if you want to get any kind of alcoholic drink. Everywhere is BYOC (bring your own cup) and the best tip is to tape a copy of your ID to your cup. Only the Black Rock Cellar actually has wine glasses for its tastings. You can find all kinds of bars, some quick and simple, and other cool quirky ones, like a high chair bar or a Western saloon (see below)! Best boozy Playa surprise of Burning Man 2018? A bunch of cutie Aussie “bartenders” gifting (with style) ice cold espresso martinis at Robot Heart sunrise party! Genius!