I think of a BBQ as a cooking tool - mine has a sort of oven underneath where spuds can be done if the fire's hot enough. I often cooked fish wrapped in foil under there, as I really don't like the emphasis there seems to be on cremating as much cheap meat as possible in this country. I'm not a big meat eater anyway, and everybody cooks too much! However, you can do much more than that...it's only a source of heat. I think a lot of the horrid whiffs come from the over use of lighting fluids and the like. Briquettes are a pain to get going. I prefer lumpwood, although it doesn't burn as long. I have got a cylindrical gizmo into which you put paper and charcoal, and which acts to draw and light the small amount therein. You then release it all onto your barbeque and stoke it up.

We started our BBQ (braai) experience in S. Africa, where NOBODY would think of slapping a piece of pink frozen cardboard onto the flames. If you WANT something to spit fat and keep it going, you use boerewors, which is like a big cumberland sausage made of coarsely ground meat, spices, and small chunks of fat. Cook it long and slow and break bits off to serve. Otherwise it's chops and steaks of various meats. Serve the meat with salads and/or pap 'n' gravy. Some of the best steak I had was cooked quite fast over huge pine cones we had picked up in a park I never saw anyone using charcoal in those days. It was all wood that had been gathered. We had a convenient blue gum (eucalyptus variety) next to us, which chucked bits down every time the wind blew!

We journeyed back overland for 4 months, and I used an open fire and a heavy mesh grill frame a lot of the time as my cooker (dry elephant dung is very easy to light!) The grill frame was then built into a bbq at this house. The original one was rebuilt a couple of years ago, and the modern insert inserted, but the grill sheet still comes camping with me sometimes for use in impromptu sessions.

However I only used it once last year now I am on my own most of the time. Some time (hopefully) this summer I am getting my kitchen removed for work on the floor. This could be the perfect opportunity for a bit of al fresco living!

Andrea