A Wolverhampton home cook with a love of Caribbean flavours and cooking over fire has been named the winner of the Barbecue of the Year competition, run by Kamado Joe supported by Great British Chefs.
Jodie Tonks, 34, impressed the judges with a menu inspired by her Caribbean heritage and years of cooking outdoors at home, beating finalists from across the country to take the title.
The judging panel brought together respected voices from across food, barbecue and hospitality: Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth; Vietnamese cookery writer and chef Thuy Diem Pham; senior food editor and podcast editor Samuel Goldsmith, who was chair of the Guild of Food Writers at the time of judging; and Kamado Joe’s international marketing director Ben Forte.
Since winning the competition, Jodie has contributed recipes to BBQ Magazine and Great British Chefs, with plans to continue developing and writing recipes as she builds her profile in live-fire cooking. As part of her prize, she has received a state-of-the-art Konnected Joe barbecue, represented Kamado Joe at food festivals and joined the brand’s dynamic team of ambassadors.
As part of her prize, Jodie will now be supported in taking her next steps in food writing and live-fire cooking, including becoming a member of the prestigious Guild of Food Writers and joining its mentorship programme, which offers six months of one-to-one guidance, encouragement and practical support from established professionals.
For Jodie, who works 32 hours a week as a buyer in the aerospace industry while raising her 10-year-old son Roman, the win marks a turning point. She says, “I still can’t quite believe it. Barbecue has always been something I’ve loved, but it’s been very personal to me. It’s the way I cook for my family, the way I bring people together and it’s where I feel most like myself.
“I started cooking outdoors properly because I didn’t want all the smoke and smells in the house, but it grew into something much bigger. I cook in all weathers and before I knew it, I had created a little outdoor kitchen area at home. It’s my happy place.
“To win this competition and now have the chance to be supported by a global barbecue brand and the Guild of Food Writers is amazing. I’d love to build more confidence in writing about food, sharing recipes and telling the stories behind the food I cook.”
Jodie’s barbecue journey began more than a decade ago. She trained at catering college in Wolverhampton, worked on grills in pub kitchens and built up her skills over years of cooking for family and friends. Her love of live-fire cooking intensified during the pandemic, when she began experimenting more seriously with outdoor cooking, smoking, marinades and spice blends.
Her winning cook was rooted in Caribbean-marinated meats, homemade roti, Scotch bonnet slaw and pickled cabbage.
Paul Ainsworth, chef patron of Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 in Padstow and one of the competition judges, says, “On the day of the competition, Jodie was quietly getting on with her cooking and keeping her head down. But then she approached the judging table with the most staggering array of Caribbean-marinated meats, Turkish platter style, with homemade rotis, a Scotch bonnet slaw and pickled cabbage. We just stopped talking and there was silence as we made our way through the different meats. It was all seasoned beautifully and showcased what the Kamado Joe is all about. I also loved the way Jodie made it accessible for everybody to cook a showstopping dish, and, most importantly, inspiring people to try BBQ cooking at home.”
The competition was created by Kamado Joe and Great British Chefs to celebrate the next generation of live-fire cooks in the UK and to show that barbecue is about far more than burgers and sausages.
Ben Forte at Kamado Joe, says, “Jodie is exactly the kind of cook this competition was created to champion. She has skill, creativity and a deep understanding of flavour, but she also cooks in a way that feels real and joyful. Her food tells a story. We’re here to help Jodie build on her talent, develop her voice and inspire others to get grilling.”
For Jodie, the opportunity comes at a time when she is thinking seriously about how food might play a bigger part in her future.
She added: “I have a busy job and family life, so food has always fitted around everything else. But this has made me feel like maybe there is a path there. I’d love to do more recipe writing, more content, maybe one day pop-ups or events locally. I just want to keep learning and see where it can go.”
Jodie will continue sharing recipes, live-fire cooking inspiration and updates from her Kamado Joe ambassador journey at @kamadojode on Instagram. Jodie hopes to continue showcasing barbecue cooking in the West Midlands, with ambitions to cook at local pop-ups, food festivals and community events. She says: “For me, barbecue is about connection. It’s not something to rush. You take your time, you savour it and you enjoy feeding people.”
