SHC Podcast: Ceri Ford
Ben Arnot from Smoking Hot Confessions is interviewing some of the most influential women in ‘cue.
We continue our podcast series featuring the most influential women in BBQ with Ceri Ford, one of the most prolific BBQ judges on the circuit and founder of the Women of Low 'n Slow Australia Facebook group. She’s a registered judge with the Australasian Barbecue Alliance, Kansas City Barbeque Society and the Steak Cookoff Association. I would challenge any pitmaster to know as much about BBQ as Ceri, or travel as many miles for competitions as she has. She’s also the founder of Healthy Party Girl, a business where Ceri dedicates herself to helping her clients achieve balance and improve their health. In short, Ceri is the very definition of goal setting, hard work, and a dedication to the smokey art of BBQ!
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ewhSSCj2nwE
Listen & Subscribe here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-smoking-hot-confessions-bbq-podcast/id1182279656
The wild journey so far…
Over the last 5 years the Women of Low & Slow BBQ Australia community has grown from humble beginnings into a wildly valuable and connected group that creates a safe space for women in all aspects of barbecue to come together, support each other and share ideas and knowledge. This is how it all began.
Back in 2017 I attended the BBQ & Beer Roadshow at Doomben Racecourse and heard the incredible Brenda from the Shank Sistas team speak on a panel hosted by Ben from Smoking Hot Confessions. I looked around and noticed there weren’t that many women involved in barbecue, so I reached out to Linda from Pits Perfect, another female-led team making waves in the competition barbecue scene. We started a small Facebook group of around 25 women who were barbecue competitors and business owners, and our little community was born. I started judging the competitions around the same time and quickly got hooked on the whole scene. My BBQ journey has started years before that, in a little pub in Melbourne called the Gasometer Hotel, and now the fire was roaring.
Over the last 5 years the group has grown to over 800 members across Australia (and a few of our friends from Aotearoa - New Zealand) and we have the most incredible group of women grillers comprising home cooks, business owners and entrepreneurs, award-winning and emerging competition teams, brand representatives, event promoters, content creators, judges and everything in between.
While the pandemic certainly threw the barbecue scene into hibernation, the group kept growing. I now run the Facebook group, Instagram, and this website in my spare time and it’s certainly a passion project, and one that I love so much. I’m grateful for the support of some powerhouse women (and blokes!) in the scene who have championed this community and also those members who have supported Women of Low & Slow BBQ Australia via merchandise sales that lessen the financial load as we grow.
My vision for this project is a big one. I see a Country Women’s Association-style cookbook, I see women’s barbecue meet-ups, events and competitions, I see women front-and-centre in all the platforms where barbecue is promoted, and masterclasses run by and for women across Australia, Aotearoa and the world. I’m so grateful that you’re here, reading this. I couldn’t have imagined that barbecue would take me here, and now I’m excited to see how far this adventure will go.
SHC Podcast: Bronnie Durston
Ben Arnot from Smoking Hot Confessions is interviewing some of the most influential women in ‘cue.
Bronnie Durston has led a successful career in hospitality, having made a name for herself as a wedding planner. However, after discovering the delicious food of Texas BBQ, Bronnie has dedicated herself to low and slow BBQ. Together with husband Paul, they are active on the competition BBQ circuit, competing as the award winning BBQ team, Bulldogs BBQ, named after Bronnie’s favourite football team. They also have an award nominated BBQ catering operation, 4670 BBQ, and the award nominated BBQ joint, Bundaberg Lunchbox. As if that wasn’t enough, Bronnie and Paul Durston are also the event organisers for the much loved Bundaberg BBQ Battle. Bronnie even shares a surprise announcement during this episode, letting us know about a 5th arm of their BBQ business endeavors, tackling the entire BBQ industry from all angles.
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/s_9OTTRjYc4
Listen & Subscribe here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-smoking-hot-confessions-bbq-podcast/id1182279656?i=1000562456552
SHC Podcast: Karina Rumens
Ben Arnot from Smoking Hot Confessions is interviewing some of the most influential women in ‘cue.
Karina Rumens is a woman on a mission - to ensure that competition BBQ in Australia is held to the highest standards and maintains a reputation equal to anywhere else in the world. Karina is one of the highest Kansas City Barbeque Society Representatives in the country and when you meet her, it’s easy to see why. A consummate professional, Karina is passionate about three things - BBQ, KCBS and Cocktails - though it’s difficult to put them in order! She is a driving force behind the competition BBQ circuit in Western Australia and although most of what she does is behind the scenes, is one of the chief reasons that WA has such a thriving competition BBQ scene.
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg3c8lXlpTo
Listen & Subscribe here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-smoking-hot-confessions-bbq-podcast/id1182279656?i=1000560705495