Fire Up Your Skills at the BBQ Academy, sponsored by La Española
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Think BBQ is just for summer? Think again.
This year, Ideal Home Show is turning up the heat with the launch of an exciting new feature: the BBQ Academy, sponsored by La Española. Designed to inspire home cooks and seasoned grill masters alike, this immersive experience celebrates the art of outdoor cooking - and proves that BBQ is a skill worth mastering all year round.
At the heart of the BBQ Academy are BBQ experts Andrew Dickens and Joseph Nesbitt-Larking, who will host a series of lively, flavour-packed demonstrations throughout the show. Their sessions are packed with practical tips, clever techniques and creative inspiration that will help visitors elevate their grilling game. From achieving the perfect sear on a melt-in-the-mouth steak to exploring unexpected BBQ dishes - the BBQ Academy pushes the boundaries of what cooking over fire can be.
Visitors can expect live demonstrations, insider knowledge and plenty of tasters, making this one of the most engaging culinary experiences at the show. Whether you’re new to cooking over flames or already confident with the tongs, the BBQ Academy is designed to leave you inspired, informed and very well fed.
The Perfect Cooking PartnerSupporting this brand-new feature is La Española, a brand whose heritage and expertise in olive oil make it a natural partner for the BBQ Academy.
Olive oil is one of the most versatile ingredients in cooking, particularly when it comes to grilling. It enhances flavour, helps achieve the perfect sear, and plays an important role in marinades, dressings and finishing touches. Understanding the different types of olive oil can unlock even more possibilities when cooking on the BBQ.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the highest-quality olive oil, produced simply by mechanically pressing olives with no chemical processing. The result is a fresh, fruity oil with a distinctive flavour and a gentle peppery finish. Its character makes it perfect for drizzling over grilled vegetables, salads or finished dishes, adding depth and brightness to BBQ creations. It can even be used in baking, bringing subtle fruitiness and lightness to cakes and desserts.
For everyday cooking and high-heat applications, Olive Oil offers a milder flavour. Made by blending refined olive oil with a small amount of extra virgin olive oil, it delivers a neutral taste and excellent cooking performance. This makes it particularly suitable for frying, roasting and preparing ingredients before they hit the grill.
Meanwhile, Light in Colour Olive Oil offers an ultra-light taste, allowing the natural flavours of ingredients to shine. Its delicate profile makes it ideal for baking and desserts — perfect for the more unexpected sweet treats visitors might see at the BBQ Academy — while its high heat tolerance also makes it great for stir-frying or shallow frying.
A World of Olive Oil FlavourLa Española also offers a range of distinctive extra virgin olive oils that bring even more character to BBQ cooking.
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, produced according to strict EU organic farming regulations, delivers the same rich flavour and quality as traditional extra virgin olive oil while ensuring olives are grown without artificial chemicals or pesticides.
For those seeking bold flavour, the Centennial First Harvest Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a standout. Made from early-harvest olives from century-old groves in Jaén, Spain, this premium oil has a vibrant green colour and complex flavour notes of fresh olives, green tomato and herbs, finished with a signature peppery kick. It’s the perfect finishing drizzle for grilled meats, vegetables or fresh bread straight from the BBQ.
And for cooks who enjoy experimenting with flavour, flavoured olive oils infused with ingredients such as garlic, chilli or truffle offer a quick way to elevate BBQ dishes. A simple drizzle over grilled vegetables, pasta, pizza or meat can instantly transform a dish.
Together, the BBQ Academy and La Española celebrate what great cooking is all about: bold flavours, quality ingredients and the joy of learning something new.
Come hungry, leave inspired — and get ready to see BBQ in a whole new light.
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