Cumbrian cook to release new book 'Cook Out' in October

Harrison Ward, better known as the Fell Foodie, is an outdoor cooking workshop demonstrator, TV personality, UK influencer, and mental health speaker from Cumbria. 

The Fell Foodie developed a passion for cooking as a child from his grandma but only grew to appreciate the beautiful outdoors that Cumbria has to offer following a battle with depression and alcoholism. 

Now hugely popular online, with 22k Instagram followers to his name, the Brampton-born cook told the News and Star about the 'bonkers' journey that will see him publish his first book, Cook Out, on October 12.

He said: "I always struggled to commit to long projects especially. I needed that sense of urgency, unfortunately with a book you can’t do all the research and write it the night before as I did with most of my school essays. So it was a labour of love.

"There were times in recent years when I was struggling with my existence, not really wanting to be here with some deep mental health issues. I’ve got a different life now that allows these sorts of opportunities, so I suppose it’s bonkers from the perspective that I never would have foreseen this a few years ago when I was falling asleep at the bar each night or drinking myself into oblivion each day.

"It seems so far removed that it is almost dystopian really, I wouldn’t have imagined it ever coming to fruition. So the fact that it is now nearly a reality and that I’ve actually done the work is why it’s all a bit bonkers."

Cook Out will feature 85 different dishes including breakfasts, one-pot recipes, extravagant dishes that might require 'pan-juggling', desserts, snacks, and sandwiches. 

All the dishes are designed to be cooked outdoors on a single-burning stove, while the book also includes important information on equipment and the countryside code. 

Harrison added: "I’m really just hoping to motivate and inspire people to see food in a different way when they go on adventures."