I’ve spent most of my adult life surrounded by smoke, sizzling meat, and a grill that’s hotter than it probably should be. My love for outdoor cooking started back in Holland, where good food brought family and neighbors together. When I moved to America, I discovered BBQ on a whole different level, and that’s when things really took off for me.
What began as simple backyard cooks turned into years of practice, experiments, small victories, and plenty of mistakes I’d rather forget. But every burnt burger and tough brisket taught me something. Over time, I learned how smoke works, how fire behaves, and why patience matters more than fancy equipment.
Those lessons helped me build TheGrillingDutchman.com, a place where I share what I’ve learned in a way anyone can understand. I write reviews, guides, and step-by-step cooking tips based on real experience — not marketing copy. If I recommend something, it’s because I’ve cooked with it, tested it, or pushed it harder than most people would.
I’ve cooked on just about everything: old charcoal kettles, offset smokers, pellet grills, flat tops, and gas setups that were held together with more hope than hardware. I’ve tested thermometers, gadgets, rubs, and tools until I knew what actually works and what’s just hype. That hands-on approach is what I bring to every article and every review.
Today, I still cook outdoors several days a week. I film YouTube videos, test new gear, create recipes, and keep refining the way I teach BBQ and grilling. I’m not a chef. I’m a pitmaster who’s put in the hours, learned from real cooks, and never stopped trying to get better.
If you’re here to learn more about me or to see the work I do, you can find all my BBQ articles, reviews, and guides over at TheGrillingDutchman.com.
That site is where I put everything I’ve learned and keep sharing new lessons as I go.
Eddie van Aken