Mastering Location Catering in the Sahara: Behind the Scenes of Our First Big Desert Adventure

What happens when your very first location catering job takes you to the edge of the Sahara desert? For us at Field Kitchen, it was the adventure of a lifetime—and the ultimate test of our creativity, endurance, and teamwork.

From Marrakech to Erfoud: Our Journey Begins

Just two months after launching Field Kitchen, Caroline, our amazing assistant cook Asma, and I packed our gear into a modest Dacia Duster and hit the road. Our destination? The hauntingly beautiful Marha plateau, an 8-hour drive south of Marrakech and deep into the Moroccan desert.

This wasn’t just any trip. We were booked to cater a high-fashion photoshoot for a major French brand, organised by the brilliant Fred Valézy of Ballroom Productions. With 60 people on set—including models, stylists, clients, and crew—we were responsible for providing three meals a day in one of the most remote and dramatic locations imaginable.

The Setting: Sculptures, Sandstorms, and Surreal Beauty

The shoot took place among the otherworldly sculptures of German architect Hannsjörg Voth: The Stairway to Heaven, The Golden Spiral, and The City of Orion. Built in the 1980s with local artisans, these vast structures rise out of the desert like monuments from another time—or another planet.

It was the perfect backdrop for a high-concept campaign and an unforgettable setting for our first real location catering challenge.

Location Catering in the Desert: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

With no kitchen, no running water, and only a borrowed catering truck as our base, the conditions were extreme. Add in daily sandstorms, temperatures pushing 40°C, and equipment breakdowns—including an exploding oven—and we were officially baptised by fire.

And yet, in that chaos, something incredible happened.

We created a menu packed with colour and flavour:

• Vibrant vegan salads
• Smoky roasted vegetables
• Homemade muhammara and baba ghanoush
• Marinated chicken, grilled to perfection
• Freshly baked cookies, yes—even in the desert!

We relied on cool boxes, backup fridges, and sheer stubborn optimism to keep everything running. Our little Dacia looked laughably small next to the fleet of fully-equipped 4x4s, but we came prepared—and it paid off.

Why This Experience Defined Our Approach to Location Catering

This job showed us what location catering is really about: adaptability, grit, and creating moments of comfort and joy in the most unexpected places. Watching the crew and models return for seconds, thanking us with sandy smiles and full plates, was the ultimate reward.

We learned fast. We improvised. We delivered.

And we can’t wait to do it again.

Thinking About Booking Location Catering?

Whether you’re planning a desert shoot, a countryside retreat, or a remote event, Field Kitchen is ready to bring creative, comforting meals wherever your team needs them. Get in touch to find out how we can cater your next adventure.