Can you cook in this game? If so how do you do this?
I've tried activating the campfires, frying pans, boiling kettles, and I don't see anything that allows me to do this. I have a bunch of raw meat, and I've picked up a few grilled meats from other characters. But I still haven't figured out how to cook them. :/

Cooking stoves (found many places such as the taverns, towers, etc can also be used. CNTOL Up Arrow (or however you have it set) with raw meat on hand. Note, that in 1 there is a bug that multiplies your meat (so I refused to use it much).

NOTE: when he said frying pan, he meant one of those camp fires with a pan on top (nearly all but not all work). There's no need to buy a pan to cook.

I thought the stoves were only in Gothic 2, not Gothic 1, or has it just been long enough since I played Gothic 1 that I forgot about them?

I could be confused; one WAS a long time ago for me too. Well, he'll know when he gets around to 2.

I see, you have to be on the side of the pan with the handle facing you. I walked around the thing several times trying to get it to work. Didn't realize it was a bit picky on which direction you faced it. Thanks for all the help guys. :D

Funny you mentioned that, as before posting I'd fired up Gothic 1 just to make sure my memory hadn't failed me, and I initially had the exact same problem that you just described.