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A food truck, a festival stage, and a sword stacked with sizzling meat—DJ BBQ shows how live-fire cooking becomes unforgettable when craft meets theatre. We dive into his story from early days on the Jamie Oliver network to building a mobile pit operation that feeds tens of thousands, all while sharing the techniques that make barbecue consistent and crowd-pleasing. Think precise temperature zones, the confidence to probe to target, and the art of trusting the rest so joints finish tender, not tough.

We get practical and specific: why British-made lump charcoal beats chemical‑laden imports, how grass‑fed British brisket delivers deep flavour once you’ve mastered fat and carryover, and when beginners might “goofproof” with imported packers. Christian breaks down cooking by senses—listening for sizzles, reading smoke, feeling for that soft‑to‑tough‑to‑soft arc—and admits the hard lessons learned from opening pits too often or trapping embers in greasy gloves. The tips are actionable: pull turkey around 64°C and rest upward, carve radiant heat for rare spit‑roast beef, and skip full-bed coals in a kettle to keep a safe zone for flare‑ups.

The conversation roams where the fire leads. We champion winter grilling with stews, chilis, and cauldrons over embers; trade notes on Weber kettles, Kamado efficiency, and insulated fireboxes; and set our sights on pizza—New Haven and New York styles that crackle without the heavy chew. Regional cues thread through it all: Alabama white sauce you can double-dip on the grill, Memphis-style one-hour ribs at Rendezvous, and the Piedmont “outside brown” technique that turns pork shoulder into burnished, addictive steaks. It’s a celebration of the UK’s melting pot—techniques and flavours borrowed, blended, and made our own.

Ready to level up your barbecue with skills you can use this weekend? Hit play, then share your winter fire plans and favourite live‑fire tip. If you enjoyed the show, follow, rate, and leave a review—your support helps more people find the flame.

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Forget the oven-first myth and the burnt banger stereotype. We sit down with Alan from Totally Awesome Barbecue to unpack how simple methods, smart gear choices, and a little patience can transform any backyard into a reliable smokehouse. Alan’s story starts where many of us do—over-firing a cheap grill—then moves through practical upgrades, mastering airflow on a kettle, and knowing when a pellet smoker makes more sense for low-and-slow. His philosophy is refreshingly no-nonsense: buy kit that lasts, learn your specific grill, and build confidence with repeatable setups.

We break down the minion and snake methods in clear, actionable steps, including common pitfalls like lighting too much fuel and chasing temperatures all day. There’s plenty of real-world nuance—how a heat deflector evens out hot spots, why sausages and burgers shine when cooked indirect, and how to avoid over-salted rubs by keeping sauce on the side. Alan shares honest fails (midnight dinners, anyone?), quick fixes that actually help, and the small tweaks that turn frustration into reliable results.

What really stands out is how British barbecue carves its own identity through range and ingenuity. We talk roasts on the grill at Christmas, breakfast on the flat top, pulled pork for a crowd, brisket for a birthday, and fusion flavours borrowed from curry nights and Greek skewers. It’s frugality, creativity, and fire—showing that great outdoor cooking doesn’t demand a shed full of steel, just sound technique and care.

If you’re ready to cook better with what you have, hit play. Then tell us your biggest win, your most painful fail, and what truly defines UK BBQ for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who still pre-cooks chicken indoors, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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The fire isn’t lit, but the warmth is real: we’re sitting under a brand-new pergola on Christmas Eve, talking through how a messy garden corner turned into a clean, year‑round outdoor kitchen built for 365 cooking. We get practical about design—why the old workshop had to go, how a Somerset grill became the centrepiece, and the small layout shifts that made everything click. With transparent chat on budgets, drawings, and brand choices from the AOS Kitchens process, this is a candid blueprint for anyone planning a functional, beautiful cooking space.

Holiday cooking brings the plan to life. We map out a calm, mid‑afternoon feast by spreading tasks across multiple cookers: turkey with room to breathe, a brisket started early for a long rest, and a cola‑and‑rum glazed ham that caramelises into crowd‑pleasing lacquer. There’s cold‑smoked cheddar waiting for the cheese board and a breakfast ritual of pancakes on the griddle, bacon, maple syrup, and a brazen Irish coffee. It’s part menu, part timing playbook, packed with tips on airflow, buffers, rest times, and how to avoid the dreaded stall panic.

We also look back and forward. A quieter year pushed us to invest in learning—like a standout day at the Irish Egg cookery school—and to double down on what makes British barbecue special: flexible, fusion‑friendly, and fearless with flavour. Being interviewed by the Barbecue Radio Network sharpened our empathy for guests and renewed our pride in the UK scene. Looking to 2026, we’re aiming for 100 episodes, more on‑the‑road recordings, and bigger live‑fire ambitions: a Kadai fire bowl, rotisserie and hanging hooks, feather blade done right, maybe even a shared suckling pig. We’re bringing back Barbecue Bingo too, and you’ll pick the ingredients.

If you’re dreaming up your own outdoor kitchen, you’ll find honest advice on layout, workflow, storage, lighting, weatherproofing, and which appliances actually earn their space. If you’re cooking for Christmas, you’ll walk away with timing strategies that let you sit, sip, and enjoy your own meal. Join us, share your must‑have backyard upgrade, and tell us what you want to hear next. If you’re new here, tap follow, leave a quick review, and pass this on to a friend who lives for good food and a better setup.

Support the show

If you want to get involved and showcase your cooks or fails, join our Facebook Group.
For all of our other episodes you can listen or watch them on our website.