Food on Fire – Danish Championship in Campfire Cooking

Smoke, embers, and community by the Sorø Lakes

Food on Fire is Denmark’s raw and authentic campfire food festival, taking place in the scenic surroundings of Parnas Park in Sorø Municipality. The festival celebrates the simple outdoor life and the very special sense of community that arises around an open fire. The rolling Zealand landscape forms the perfect backdrop for a day where cooking moves into the open air, and the aroma of wood smoke quickly spreads across the grounds. The event traces its roots back to mankind’s most basic cooking methods, presented in a modern, quality-conscious context. Here, the pace is slowed down, and the informal atmosphere makes it easy to immerse oneself in food culture.

The Danish Campfire Cooking Championship and culinary craft

One of the absolute highlights of the festival is the official Danish Campfire Cooking Championship (DM i Bålmad). Here, handpicked professional chefs compete against each other under time pressure, allowing the audience to follow the intense work from the front row. The challenge requires immense flexibility, fire management skills, and deep ingredient knowledge, as wind and weather play an active part in the cooking process. Well-known food personalities and culinary judges evaluate the process, where everything from ember control to flavor precision is assessed. It is a unique opportunity to see how complex, flavorful dishes can be created purely through proper craftsmanship.

A fun-filled day for families and food enthusiasts

The festival is tailored to engage everyone, making it the ideal excursion for active families with children. In the dedicated family areas, children and adults can join practical campfire activities together, such as baking twist bread with local herbs, making pancakes over the fire, or roasting marshmallows. Side by side with these activities, the festival features educational segments for adult food lovers and home cooks. Through inspiring campfire talks, beer tastings, and specialized masterclasses, you can gather practical tips on how to tame the flames at home and upgrade your own outdoor cooking for future trips.

Local specialties and the pantry of Zealand

Food on Fire is highly a celebration of the regional ingredients from Destination Sjælland. At the festival's food market, local producers, winegrowers, brewers, and micro-distilleries showcase their unique products. Guests can sample everything from crisp apples and foraged herbs to seaweed, award-winning local wine from Røsnæs, and specialty beers brewed exclusively for the festival. The event creates a direct link between nature, agriculture, and the dining plate, and the competing chefs integrate these locally unique ingredients into their contest menus.

Cultural and nature experiences in and around Sorø

Sorø and the surrounding countryside offer rich opportunities to extend your festival experience. The historic Sorø Academy, the monastery church, and the charming town center are located just a short distance from the festival site, and the large Sorø lakes invite you for beautiful walks or boat trips. The surrounding forests are perfect for exploring local wildlife or foraging for seasonal mushrooms. If you want help planning your trip, finding nearby accommodation, or discovering even more exciting cultural and natural experiences in the region, you can find plenty of inspiration at destinationsjaelland.dk.