Chef Mike - BBQ Coach:
One-on-One Coaching for Charcoal and Live-Fire Cooks
Serving Oakville and Burlington, Ontario
Unlock the full potential of your charcoal grill, smoker, or live-fire cooker with personal coaching from Chef Mike.
Whether you have just unboxed your first charcoal grill or smoker, or you’ve been cooking over fire for years but want more control and better results, Chef Mike can help. Learn how to master hardwood heat, avoid common pitfalls, and build real skill and confidence across grills, smokers, pizza ovens, and live-fire setups.
Personal BBQ Coaching at Your Home with Your Gear
NOTE: Coaching is currently closed for the winter. See you in the spring.
Personal BBQ coaching takes place in your backyard, on your equipment. The goal is simple: everything you learn should be immediately practical. Charcoal grills, smokers, pizza ovens, Konro grills — if it burns charcoal or wood, Chef Mike can help you get the most out of it.
Each coaching session is custom-tailored to your experience level, goals, and gear.
BBQ Lessons & Coaching
Below are example focus areas to get you started. Sessions can cover one topic or a combination, depending on what you want to work on.
Intro to Hardwood Cooking
New to charcoal grilling or smoking? Learn the fundamentals of fire, charcoal selection, wood use, airflow, and how your cooker actually works — so you can cook with confidence instead of guesswork.
Intermediate BBQ: Level Up
Already comfortable with the basics but want better consistency and control? Dial in fire management, timing, technique, and problem-solving to improve results across cooks.
Specific Recipes & Techniques
Want help dialing in a specific cook? Ribs, brisket, reverse-seared steaks, pizza, or specialty live-fire dishes — sessions can focus on technique, workflow, and execution.
BBQ Lessons Options & Pricing
1-Hour Barbecue Coaching Session - $150
Ideal for targeted instruction or a strong foundation in charcoal grilling or smoking. Learn how to use your smoker, grill, or pizza oven more effectively, from fuel selection to airflow to execution.
90-Minute Barbecue Coaching Session - $225
Best for deeper dives, practical cooks with real food, or advanced technique tuning. Ideal for ribs, pizza, steaks, or refining specific live-fire skills.
Northern Barbecue™ Method Coaching (Online)
For cooks following the Northern Barbecue™ Method, Chef Mike also offers optional one-on-one online coaching sessions.
These focused 30-minute sessions are designed to support cooks working through a specific year or dish within the Northern Barbecue™ curriculum. Topics often include fire management, equipment setup, technique progression, and troubleshooting specific cooks.
Online coaching is optional and designed to complement the self-directed curriculum.
Northern Barbecue™ Method Online Coaching: 30 minutes — $50
Availability is limited. Contact Chef Mike for details.
Why Learn from BBQ Chef Mike?
With more than 20 years of hands-on live-fire experience, Chef Mike combines professional culinary training with a deep respect for traditional hardwood cooking.
Culinary school graduate
Former KCBS Certified BBQ Judge
WSET accredited in Wine and Spirits — because great barbecue deserves great pairings
Proven techniques grounded in real-world backyard cooking
Ready to Fire it Up?
Whether you are brand new to charcoal cooking, working through the Northern Barbecue™ Method, or looking to sharpen advanced live-fire skills, Chef Mike can help you cook with more confidence and control.
Contact me to learn more about session availability, ask questions, or to get started.
Contact Chef Mike for More Information
Serving barbecue lovers in Oakville and Burlington, Ontario — and beyond.
Learn. Cook. Impress.
Smoke smarter. Grill better. Eat happier.