For me, BBQ has never been just about cooking meat over fire. It's about the people, the conversations, the experiences and the connections that happen when good food brings everyone together.

I'm Dave Meadows, the bloke behind Dave Meadows BBQ. What started as a love of cooking outdoors has grown into something I never could have imagined. It's taken me across Australia, introduced me to some extraordinary people and given me opportunities I wouldn't have dreamed possible a few years ago.

And somewhere along the way, I discovered that BBQ could be about something much bigger than food.
 

From the Backyard to Across Australia

Like plenty of Aussies, my love of BBQ started with the simple enjoyment of firing up the grill and feeding family and friends. But the more I cooked, the more I wanted to learn, experiment and create something different.
 

I developed a real passion for low-and-slow BBQ, big flavours and putting my own Australian spin on traditional barbecue. But what I've always enjoyed most isn't necessarily the cooking itself. It's watching people come together around the food.
 

That belief eventually inspired one of the biggest adventures of my life.

In 2026, my family and I travelled more than 7,000 kilometres around Australia for the Smoke & Soul Project, using BBQ to connect with people experiencing homelessness and the incredible organisations supporting them.
 

Over 59 days, we hosted 18 community BBQs, served approximately 1,400 free meals and met people whose stories completely changed the way I see the world. What started as an idea to feed people became an experience that taught me the value of connection, kindness and simply taking the time to listen. It reinforced something I now firmly believe: sometimes a shared meal can mean far more than the food on the plate.

Finding My Voice

There's another part of my story that's shaped who I am.

I've lived with a stutter for as long as I can remember. Speaking publicly hasn't always come naturally, and there have been plenty of moments when finding the words has been harder than I'd like.

But through BBQ, the Smoke & Soul Project and the opportunities that followed, I've found myself stepping further outside my comfort zone.

From radio interviews and television appearances to sharing my story with others, I've learned that having something meaningful to say matters far more than saying it perfectly.

It's been a personal journey of building confidence, finding my voice and learning to back myself.
 

Good Food. Genuine Connections.

Today, Dave Meadows BBQ brings together the things I'm most passionate about: great food, creativity, community and people.

Whether I'm catering an event, experimenting with new flavours, bringing a workplace team together around the BBQ or supporting a community organisation, my approach is the same. Keep it genuine. Make the food memorable. Bring people together. I don't have every step of this journey mapped out, and that's part of the excitement. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that some of life's best opportunities come from following your passion and being willing to give something a go.

So I'll keep cooking, creating, sharing stories and finding ways to make a positive difference. Because for me, great BBQ is about more than what's on the plate. It's about what happens around it.

Welcome to Dave Meadows BBQ.