FOOD + DRINK
MEET THE CHEF :
RUSS JAQUES
Pitmaster , Smokey Rebel , Challock
What led you to becoming a Pitmaster ?
BBQ has long been a passion of mine and is well and truly in my DNA . Some of my fondest memories growing up are when my father and I would break out the smoker and BBQ when I was just a young boy in the 90s at our family home in Kent . Back then hardly anyone was using BBQ smokers in the UK . The thrill of the process and the amazing food my father smoked had me hooked even at a young age .
Where did you train ?
The early years working with my father on his cooks helped me develop my fire control skills which are crucial when operating traditional stickburning smokers . I then used these skills to develop my cooking techniques further . Over the years I have been lucky enough to travel all over the USA , meeting different BBQ Pitmasters and eating world class BBQ as I went - I ’ ve picked up lots of tips , tricks and the culture along the way . The BBQ community is a great one , full of people more than willing to share their knowledge and wisdom on all things BBQ . I have combined this with trial and error over the last 20 years to make me the BBQ pitmaster I am today .
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