R&S Pride JULY 228.qxp 10/06/2021 10:00 Page 54
HOGGY’S GRILL
A GOOD
GRILLING SOS: Save Our Summer! If bad barbecue food ends up being a burning issue during your summer, enlist England cricketer turned BBQ-guru Matthew ‘Hoggy’ Hoggard to provide you with a masterclass in al fresco grill cooking! Words: Rob Davis.
MORE SINNED AGAINST THAN SINNING. That’s my own assessment of barbecue food prepared by us Brits. Unlike many men who tend towards overconfidence at the grill, I happily acquiesce to my uselessness when it comes to barbecues. Whatever I try to cook al fresco is burnt on the outside, raw in the middle and generally quite miserable. Barbecue food can, however, be glorious – when its cooking is well-executed – so it’s with much happiness we can this month introduce Matthew ‘Hoggy’ Hoggard, who’s here to rescue summer and provide expert advice on the subject at his new al fresco cooking school, Hoggy’s Grill. Recognise the name? You should. Born and bred in Yorkshire, Hoggy proved to be a talented England cricketer having left home at the tender age of 17 to serve as a fast bowler for the Pirates in Johannesburg. “The British refer to outdoor cooking as barbecuing, but it’s more correctly known as cooking on a grill. Cooking al fresco in South Africa over there was common,” says Hoggy. “I don’t know if it’s the climate, or the culture, greater enthusiasm, or more practice… but Australia, South Africa and America are all cultures that enjoy more success when it comes to cooking on a grill. And countries like India have variations on grills like the tandoor
oven. During my time travelling the world as a cricketer, I jumped on any chance to cook outdoors, and I had people around me who were equally enthusiastic.” Hoggy made his debut and played professionally for England from 2000 to 2008. During those years he’d spend the summer months here in England and winter overseas, typically in warm climates… which furthered Hoggy’s opportunities to hone his outdoor cooking skills. The physical toll that fast-bowling takes on the body, though, is enormous. Physiotherapists reckon that seven times Hoggy’s body weight (about 15 stone) goes through his knee during an 85mph bowl, and so at the age of just 31 – and after a few injuries – he was forced to retire earlier than he would have liked. “The problem as, I’m a do-er, not a watch-er, though!” he confesses. >>
Above: Former England cricketer turned barbecue guru, Rutland’s Matthew Hoggard is here to save your summer with delicious al fresco grill dishes as well tuition and tips for creating the best barbecue cuisine.
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