I spend most of my time cooking outdoors, testing BBQ gear, and figuring out what actually works in a real backyard. I’m not interested in perfect studio setups or theory-heavy advice. I care about practical cooking, honest testing, and sharing what I learn in a way that helps people cook better food at home.
Here’s what that looks like day to day.
Outdoor Cooking & BBQ Education
I cook outside several days a week, year-round. Sometimes it’s a long low-and-slow cook, sometimes it’s a quick weeknight grill, and sometimes it’s an experiment that doesn’t go as planned. Every cook teaches me something.
I focus on:
- grilling fundamentals
- smoking meat the right way
- fire and temperature control
- understanding how smoke behaves
- learning when to trust thermometers and when to trust experience
I share these lessons through clear, simple explanations that make sense to beginners but still matter to experienced cooks.
Testing Grills, Smokers, and BBQ Gear
I test grills, smokers, thermometers, and outdoor cooking tools the same way most people use them — outside, in real conditions, without special treatment.
I pay attention to:
- build quality
- ease of use
- temperature accuracy
- consistency during long cooks
- where things fail over time
If something works well, I explain why.
If it has flaws, I point those out too.
All of my hands-on testing and reviews are published at TheGrillingDutchman.com, where I break things down honestly so people can make better buying decisions.
Writing Guides, Reviews, and Practical BBQ Content
I write detailed guides and reviews based on what I’ve personally cooked and tested. I don’t repeat marketing claims or rewrite manuals. I explain things the way I’d explain them to someone standing next to me at the grill.
My content focuses on:
- clear step-by-step guidance
- real-world cooking scenarios
- common mistakes and how to avoid them
- practical advice that works across different grills
Everything I publish is built on firsthand experience.
Creating Video Content & Visual Teaching
Some things are easier to show than to explain. That’s why I also create video content where people can see how I cook, how I test gear, and how I handle real BBQ situations as they happen.
My videos focus on:
- real cooks, not perfect takes
- honest results
- simple explanations
- showing both successes and mistakes
This helps people understand not just what to do, but why it works.
Building The Grilling Dutchman Brand
All of my BBQ work comes together through The Grilling Dutchman, my main BBQ and outdoor cooking website. That’s where I publish my guides, reviews, recipes, and testing results.
The goal of the brand is simple:
Help home cooks make better food outdoors without overcomplicating things.
If someone can avoid a bad grill purchase, cook a better brisket, or finally understand how smoke works, then I’ve done my job.
How This Page Fits In
This site exists to explain who I am and what I do.
The Grilling Dutchman exists to share everything I’ve learned.
If you’re here to understand my background and experience, you’re in the right place.
If you want practical BBQ advice, reviews, and cooking guides, head over to TheGrillingDutchman.com.
Eddie van Aken.
Being an enthusiastic and experienced backyard grillmaster and product reviewer, I share my experience with outdoor cooking, including everything that went wrong, here on my website. You can read more about Eddie van Aken here.