Celebrating BBQ’s – Festivals across Australia in 2019

BBQ festivals in Australia

So you’ve caught the BBQ bug and all you can think about is what you are going to cook on the grill next!

Take heart, you are not the only grill fanatic. There are whole venues and weekends dedicated to just such a fetish. Over the next 12 months there are no fewer than 30 events to take grilling to a whole new level. There are prize winning comps, music, food vans, celebrity chefs, as well as BBQ accessories and all forms of BBQ’s to buy and demonstrations. Teams travel from all over the world to ply their wares.

BBQ festivals are really relaxing, family style events. They generally start at midday festivals are a feast for all the senses. They are very reasonably priced and are a nod to the old days of good clean fun. It is also the natural habitat of the hipster.

Here are just some of the upcoming events:

BEEF IN THE VINES
When	Sunday 21st July
Where	Cassegrain, 10 Winery Drive, Port Macquarie, NSW
ADELAIDE BEER AND BBQ FESTIVAL
When	Friday 12th Saturday 13th Sunday 14th July
Where	Leader St, Wayville, Adelaide
BRISBANE BBQ FESTIVAL
When	Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July
Where	The Sporting Fields, Victoria Park, 271 Gilchrist Avenue, Herston, QLD
HUNTER VALLEY BEER AND BBQ FESTIVAL
When	Saturday 3rd August
Where	Hope Estate, 2213 Broke Rd, Rothbury, NSW
BURLEIGH BBQ
When	Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August
Where	North Burleigh Heads Lifesaving Club, 293 The Esplanade, Miami, QLD
MEET MEAT
When	Friday 23rd Saturday 24th Sunday 25th August
Where	Horsham Victoria
SUNPORK SMOKE OFF – BACONFEST KINGAROY
When	Friday 23rd Saturday 24th Sunday 25th August
Where	Lot 28, Glendon St, Kingaroy, QLD
WESTSHORE BEACH IN BBQ BATTLE
	Details TBA
RUSTLER SHOWDOWN
When	Friday 27th and Saturday 28th September
Where	Rose Cottage Inn Cnr Isabella Dve and Monaro Highway, Chisholm ACT
FAT DRIP BBQ COMPETITION
When	Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October
Where	First Drop Wines, 30-38 Barossa Valley Way
CENTRAL COAST BBQ BEED AND BEER FESTIVAL
When	Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October
Where	Dam Hotel Cnr Minnesota Rd and Pacific Hwy, Hamlyn Terrace, NSW
KANGAROO VALLEY CRAFT BEER AND BBQ FESTIVAL
When	Saturday 16th November
Where	159 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley, NSW

Good Winter recipes to cook on the BBQ

Good Winter BBQ recipes are different from often used Summer recipes. Winter recipes include comfort food like stews, risottos, roasts, soups, etc. The great thing about winter cooking on the BBQ is the dishes are often set and forget as opposed to foods that need to be watched.

This recipe requires a Weber casserole dish. If you do not have one it is advisable to purchase on as there are so many recipes that can be cooked in this dish. A quick example is risotto, stews, classic BBQ sauce, croissant pudding, lamb pie with polenta mash, Ferrero Rocher brownies and many a stew

Method

Step 1
Soak the wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes. We recommend hickory wood chips for this recipe.

Step 2
Prepare the barbecue for indirect cooking over medium heat (190°C to 230°C). If using a Weber® Q®, set up your barbecue with a convection tray and a trivet. If using a gas barbecue, set up your barbecue with smoker box(es).

Step 3
Lightly coat the beef chuck steaks with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Step 4
Drain and add the wood chips to the charcoal or to the smoker box of a gas barbecue, following the manufacturer’s instructions. When smoke appears, roast the beef chuck steaks over indirect medium heat, with the lid closed, for 30 minutes*.

Step 5
Remove the steaks from the barbecue and set aside to rest.

Step 6
Prepare the barbecue for direct cooking over medium heat (190°C to 230°C). If using a Weber Q barbecue, remove the convection tray and a trivet. Place a large Weber Q Casserole dish (without lid) onto the barbecue, preheat the dish with the barbecue lid closed for 5 minutes.

Step 7
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, onion, chilli and garlic to the casserole dish, sauté over direct medium heat for 4 minutes, or until the onion is translucent.

Step 8
Add the celery and carrot, continue to sauté for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the steaks into 1.5cm cubes.

Step 9
Prepare the barbecue for indirect cooking over medium heat (190°C to 230°C). If using a Weber Q barbecue, set up your barbecue with a convection tray and a trivet.

Step 10
Return the casserole dish to the barbecue. Add the cubed beef and the remaining ingredients. Stir, to combine all of the ingredients. Place the casserole lid on (vent steam open), and cook over indirect medium heat for 2.5 to 3 hours, or until the beef is soft and tender.

Step 11
Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve with pappardelle pasta or polenta.

NOTE *If you do not have smoker boxes or wood chips, simply barbecue the steaks over direct high heat for 3 to 4 minute

Source: Weber BBQ Recipes

Cooking Vegetarian on the BBQ

When we think BBQ we automatically think meat. This doesn’t have to be the case. The amount of vegetables  and vegetarian dishes we can cook on the grill are endless. We can infuse that beautiful smokey flavour into our vegetarian dishes as well.

Method

Step 1
Prepare the barbecue for direct and indirect cooking over medium heat (190°C to 230°C). If using a Weber Q barbecue, set up your barbecue with a convection tray and a trivet.
Lightly coat the cherry tomatoes with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. In a food processor blitz together the bread, garlic, parmesan and basil leaves until the mixture has turned into fine crumbs.

Step 2
Using a basting brush, brush the mushrooms all over with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 3
Grill the cherry tomatoes over direct medium heat (190°C to 230°C) for 4 minutes, with the lid closed, turning once halfway through the cooking time. Cook until the tomatoes have just started to blister. Once cooked, remove from the barbecue.

Step 4
Assemble the mushrooms by placing the cherry tomatoes into the mushroom cavities. Tear the buffalo mozzarella into small chunks and add to the mushrooms. Top with the blitzed breadcrumb mixture.

Step 5
Roast the portabella mushrooms over indirect medium heat (190°C to 230°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, with the lid closed. If you are using a Weber Q, place the mushrooms onto the trivet. Roast the mushrooms until the crumbs are golden and the mushroom has cooked to your liking.

Step 6
Finish the mushrooms with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Source: Weber BBQ Recipes