| irst meat that I ever wanted to cook on a barbecue | | | | cookout. Social networking though is still my favourite |
| was a chicken using the rotisserie and I’ve | | | | way to learn and by that I’m referring to |
| never really stopped to think about why. I guess | | | | talking with fellow enthusiasts and not necessarily |
| it’s down to “the boy with a new | | | | over the web. |
| toy” mentality in that the BBQ spit came in | | | | I tried barbecue cookout competitions and whilst |
| the pack with the grill and a rotisserie cooking | | | | there was a great sense of occasion and |
| process adds dynamism. Looking back not only is it | | | | lot’s of fun, it was a little too competitive |
| visually appealing but also the spit does the work for | | | | and recipes kept as closely guarded secrets. So |
| you leaving plenty of time beer or two! | | | | where can you go to meet like minded people? |
| Maybe I did one too many beers on that first | | | | Where can you find more barbecues, smokers and |
| cookout because the results weren’t quite up | | | | outdoor grills in one place and people sharing and |
| to standard. I tried to light my grill with paper and | | | | having fun? |
| wood which sent ash all over the chicken. I | | | | At a sports event! |
| didn’t balance the chicken very well on the | | | | Being a petrol head I regularly hit Les 24 Heures Du |
| spit so one side cooked before the other. I made | | | | Mans (that’s the Le Mans 24 Hour Endurance |
| every mistake in the book. | | | | race to you and me) in France. Not only is there a |
| Having said that, getting that first taste of BBQ | | | | mix of barbecue nutcases and pyromaniacs they |
| smoke was still a defining moment and even after | | | | come from all over the world so where else is there |
| my first disastrous attempt with the rotisserie I was | | | | such a wealth of knowledge, experience and above |
| (and still am) hooked on outdoor cooking. | | | | all a sense of fun? |
| I progressed gently onto sausages and burgers | | | | Camping by a race track with cars flying past at |
| learning as I went that the fat off the food causes | | | | 150+mph, what could be better? OK so it might not |
| the smoke and also the flames and when flames | | | | appeal to everyone and it doesn’t have to be |
| appear, the food doesn’t cook, it burns. Since | | | | as exotic as Le Mans, I found a similar atmosphere |
| discovering this point I’ve had to adjust | | | | with a completely different crowd down at |
| every charcoal barbecue that I’ve ever | | | | Twickenham for the rugby cup final, everyone |
| bought with an extra notch to raise up the grill and | | | | focused on partying, enjoying the food, the event |
| keep the flames from lapping up at that first spit of | | | | and the other people there. The event isn’t |
| the fat. Grill manufacturers take note! | | | | important, it’s the occasion and the people |
| For greater variety I later invested in a copy of | | | | that make it what it is. |
| Ainsley's Barbecue Bible and this took me to higher | | | | So in my book social networking is the answer for |
| levels even to the point where people were starting | | | | new ways to barbecue. For free barbecue recipes, |
| to look at what I was cooking and asking how I'd | | | | get down to you local sports stadium and have a |
| done it. If they were lucky they even got to taste it! | | | | wander around before the ball game and the |
| Anyway, barbecuing has become a way of life for | | | | inspiration for your next barbecue menu ideas will be |
| me and now the internet provides so many free | | | | right in front of your eyes. This is my idea of social |
| barbecue recipes and easy smoker recipes | | | | networking! |
| there’s plenty of menu ideas for my next | | | | |