Manifold Destiny is a cookbook written by Chris Maynard and Bill Scheller, first published in 1989, with updated editions released in 1998 and 2008. Its subtitle is The One! The Only! Guide to Cooking on Your Car Engine! The book is a humorous but functional guide to preparing food using the heat of a car's engine while driving.
Background and Inspiration
The authors, a photographer (Maynard) and a travel writer (Scheller) who were also rally drivers, claimed inspiration from a trip from Montreal to Boston. They kept a package of smoked meat from Schwartz's Deli in Montreal warm by placing it on the car's engine block, having heard that truckers commonly kept cans of soup hot using the same method. The idea was further developed during the 1988 Cannonball One Lap of America Rally, an 8,000-mile highway marathon, where they prepared frozen meals in advance and cooked them on the engine of their Lincoln Town Car.
Content and Method
The book provides step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and more than 30 to 40 original recipes (depending on edition) designed for cooking on a car engine. The basic method involves seasoning ingredients, wrapping them tightly in multiple layers of aluminum foil, and placing the packet on a hot surface within the engine compartment, such as the exhaust manifold or valve cover. Cooking times are given in miles rather than minutes (e.g., "JB's Mall Pups" takes about 25 miles). The authors emphasize using three layers of foil to prevent leaks and to avoid food acquiring flavors from gasoline or exhaust.
Editions
- First edition (1989): Published by Villard Books, ISBN 0679723374
- Second edition (1998): Published by Villard Books, ISBN 0375751408
- Third edition (2008): Published by Simon & Schuster, ISBN 1416596232 (paperback), 160 pages
Reception
The Los Angeles Times described it as "[a] witty, cleverly conceived and actually workable guide." The Chicago Tribune called it "a witty, informative paperback." Publishers Weekly (1989) noted the authors "are as adept at roasting trendy cookery as they are at warming pastrami sandwiches." The book has been described as a "cult classic" and has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, The Daily Telegraph, Eater, and USA Today.
Authors
- Chris Maynard — founder of the YOYO School of Art; co-author of The Bad for You Cookbook
- Bill Scheller — travel writer and journalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Islands, The Washington Post Magazine, and other publications; author of 33 books
