In the 1970’s and 1980’s there were several books the either had characters that did it or promoted it.
Why is there no cooking tray in my new car’s engine bay?
Is it dangerous? (It would be less physically dangerous if there was a specific spot for it.)
My dad used to do something similar. He used to pack leftovers in tin foil and keep it in the engine bay of the tractor so he could keep going and stay out in the field not have to halt everything to have dinner way back at the house.