The BBQnique story

My background as an opal miner in the Australian outback was the catalyst for the design and manufacture of BBQnique®.

It is mandatory for an opal drilling rig to keep on board a grill, hot plate, and a pot. These are essentials for fun and happy tummies in remote places like Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge.

At mealtimes an open campfire would be set on rocks and a hot plate or grill placed over the fire. It's a method of cooking familiar to anyone who has had any outback experience.

This practical cooking method quickly became a communal affair with miners combining their tucker and sitting on 20ltr. oil drums, each person prodding, turning, and basting their own meat frequently, whilst downing a coldie or two.

This soon turned into a competitive affair as to who could knock up the best bush stew or char grill? Or bring that special breakfast bacon from a far away continental store in the big smoke.

Lunch, which turned to dinner, with work stopping due to the amount of fun, was frequently eaten this way. Camaraderie was always high and the boys and girls (yes there are female opal miners) always sat around together. We just had fun in an otherwise barren and inhospitable landscape.

On my return home we would have the traditional Aussie BBQ on weekends with family and friends, but it was never the same as the outback. The girls would be in the kitchen, the boys around the BBQ. There was always a control freak, who usually burnt everything, but insisted on doing the cooking.

There had to be a better way of replicating the outback cooking experience and creating a similar atmosphere in our own backyard, in comfort, away from the elements.

BBQnique® was born, and is now proudly a registered design in Australia, Europe, and the United States.

Steve Zagar / Director