Q1) What gets you out of bed in the morning (and why)?
My family are my biggest driver, and my inspiration. But I also have a real passion burning in me where I want to help people to BBQ better, I see so many people struggling with the basics of BBQ, and it really motivates me that I can help them with a few simple techniques to feel more confident and to really enjoy cooking outdoors.
Q2) Do you have any habits or routines you follow …and what benefit do these bring for you?
I'm not really a man for routines, I like to keep flexible and respond to what is in front of me. My working life in the Oil & Gas industry has always been very varied, working offshore, overseas, in offices, so I often just have to turn up and make things work on the fly.
Q3) Are there any quotes or mantras that you love &/or live by…and why?
“Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it's a start.” Anthony Bourdain.... I've always found that being in front of a fire, with friends and family, enjoying some good food is such a good place to be. By spreading a little positivity in the world we can all make a small difference.
Q4) Is there a specific skillset or personal attribute you have that you can say has contributed to your own success to date?
My biggest thing has always been communication, both in my Oil & Gas career where it is a critical part of my job, and these communication skills have proven really helpful in demoing and teaching bbq skills, if you can get your message across clearly and effectively, then people listen.
Q5) Are you currently learning any new skills or working on improving anything about yourself and why?
I'm really having to work on my behind the scenes business skills, there was so much more to setting up a bbq school than I expected, but I'm enjoying the challenge.
Q6) Looking back – can you pick out any achievement to date that you are the proudest of and why?
My proudest achievement was becoming a dad. But in my BBQ life, my first book Food & Fire being published and becoming a best seller was a very proud moment, it's not an easy thing to get a book out, and it took a lot of work over many years, but I persevered.
Q7) Again, looking back, have you experienced adversity (or faced discrimination/prejudice) in your life and how has that shaped who you are today?
The most adversity I have faced was losing a steady Oil & Gas contract around 6 years ago, I had to face up to the reality that the career I had worked so hard on, may not be something that I could rely on, hence why I started to push ahead with building my BBQ business.
Q8) What is one key piece of advice you would pass onto someone/ to your younger self and why? or have you ever been given a piece of advice that has served you well?
If at first you don't succeed, work hard, keep persevering, and be clear about what you want to achieve.
Q9) Looking at the arts, are there any specific films, songs, pieces of art, plays, books or podcasts that you have enjoyed/resonate with you, that you in turn, would recommend?
I love all kinds of music to BBQ to, but a real favorite of mine is bluegrass, it just suits my head when I'm bbqing. There's a real renaissance of this music with bands such as the Dead South. One of my favourite films is Ferris Bueler's Big Day out, I just love the relentless positivity of Ferris, and his focus on having the best time.
Q10) Bucket list / Travel. Can you recall your best holiday & what made it so? I.e. Is there anything/anywhere you have experienced that you highly recommend and anything/anywhere on your list you have still to do/go and visit?
I've been very lucky to have travelled extensively, India was a real highlight, but my honeymoon, a month touring New Zealand was a once in a lifetime trip. Going to Argentina to enjoy the asado culture is somewhere I really want to visit.
Q11) Your last supper. What dish are you eating (and why?)? & who are having it with (and why)? (Other than your immediate family, can be a person dead or alive or a fictional character)
Surf and Turf.... Ribeye Steak, med rare with a pile of scallops, chimichurri and a good Malbec. I wouldn't want to share, so would enjoy it by myself, and really soak in the enjoyment
Q12) What is your own definition of success / Your own vision of happiness / What’s your NorthStar?
Success to me is achieving a balance, of family, work and self, being able to provide for my family, and being able to help others.
Bonus Question) If I was to ask you, what you thought the meaning of life was to you? A big question I know, as it stands today – what would your answer be?
For me this is easy, being sat around a fire, with family, friends, some good food and a glass of something nice.
Biography:
Having worked as a Geologist in the Oil & Gas Industry for 25 years, Marcus decided that his passion for BBQ and outdoor cooking offered up a big opportunity to help people who were struggling with their own BBQ. Little did he know that BBQ was about to take off in a big way with the onset of a global pandemic and people trying to BBQ at home more. Marcus has been running UK BBQ School for 6 years from home, but moved into a purpose built BBQ school in Devon in May 21 to teach people to BBQ with more confidence. Marcus has built up a large social media following called CountryWoodSmoke 37k members, is Consultant Editor of The BBQ Mag, and has written 2 best selling BBQ books, Food & Fire and Skewered. Marcus demos at food events around the UK helping many thousands of people get fired up about outdoor cooking and BBQ.