I am Eddie van Aken, a Dutch-born outdoor cooking enthusiast living in the United States. Most of my work today revolves around two things I spend a lot of time doing: cooking outdoors and working on backyard projects.
Over the years, those interests slowly turned into websites where I share what I’ve learned.
I am the creator of The Grilling Dutchman, where I teach practical BBQ and outdoor cooking, and Practical Backyard, where I review tools and equipment for backyard, garden, and garage projects.
More recently, I started A Faithful Life, where I write about another important part of my life: Christian faith, health, healthy aging, and lessons I’ve learned along the way.
The subjects may be different, but my approach is much the same. I write about what I’ve experienced, what I’ve learned, and sometimes what I learned the hard way.
My Background
I didn’t learn BBQ in a professional kitchen. Most of what I know came from cooking outdoors, experimenting with different grills and smokers, and figuring things out through trial and error.
Like most backyard cooks, I learned the hard way.
Some cooks turned out great. Others… not so much.
But every mistake taught me something about fire, smoke, temperature control, and equipment. Over time, those lessons built the experience that now shapes the work I publish online.
The Grilling Dutchman
My BBQ project, The Grilling Dutchman, focuses on helping backyard cooks understand grilling and smoking in a practical way.
Instead of complicated recipes or fancy techniques, I focus on what actually works in a real backyard.
On that site you will find:
- guides on grilling and smoking meat
- explanations of fire management and temperature control
- reviews of grills, smokers, and thermometers
- practical outdoor cooking advice
Everything I publish is based on real cooks and hands-on testing.
If I recommend a grill, thermometer, or accessory, it’s because I’ve used it or spent time evaluating how it performs.
You can read more at Practical Backyard.
Practical Backyard
Spending so much time outdoors naturally led to something else.
Backyard cooking isn’t just about grills and smokers. It involves tools, lighting, patio setups, storage solutions, and all kinds of equipment that make outdoor projects easier.
Over time, I found myself constantly researching and testing those tools as well.
That’s why I started Practical Backyard, a site focused on backyard, garden, and garage equipment.
There I review:
- garden tools
- backyard equipment
- outdoor lighting and patio accessories
- garage tools and DIY gear
Just like with BBQ equipment, I focus on products that offer real value and hold up under actual use.
You can read more at Practical Backyard.
A Faithful Life
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself spending more time thinking about faith, health, and what it means to live a good and meaningful life.
That led me to create A Faithful Life.
I was raised Christian and attended church when I was young, but I moved away from my faith for a number of years. Later in life, I came back to a much deeper Christian faith. That journey is an important part of what I write about today.
I also spend a lot of time learning about nutrition, healthy aging, gardening for health, and the connection between body, mind, and spirit.
I’m not a preacher or a doctor, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. A Faithful Life is simply where I share my faith, my research, my experiences, and what I continue to learn as I get older.
You can read more at A Faithful Life.
How I Approach Reviews and Advice
Whether I’m talking about BBQ or backyard equipment, my approach is always the same.
I focus on practical use.
That means looking at things like:
- durability
- ease of use
- real performance
- long-term value
I’m not interested in marketing hype or brand names. If something works well, I’ll explain why. If something has problems, I’ll mention those too.
People deserve honest information before they spend their money.
Where You Can Find My Work
Most of the content I publish today appears on two websites.
The Grilling Dutchman
https://thegrillingdutchman.com
A site dedicated to grilling, smoking, and outdoor cooking for backyard pitmasters.
Practical Backyard
https://practicalbackyard.com
A website focused on backyard, garden, and garage equipment reviews.
A Faithful Life
https://afaithfullife.com/
My personal writing about Christian faith, health, healthy aging, and lessons learned through life.
Although the subjects are different, all three websites are based on the same principle: sharing what I’ve learned through experience and continuing to learn along the way
Why I Share What I Learn
For me, cooking and working outdoors have always been about learning by doing.
I’ve burned food, ruined cooks, bought tools that didn’t work, and spent plenty of time figuring things out the hard way.
Eventually, I realized those experiences could help other people avoid the same mistakes.
That’s why I created my websites.
Not to show perfect results, but to explain what actually works in real backyards.
If something I’ve learned helps someone cook better BBQ or choose the right tool for a backyard project, then the work is worth it.
Eddie van Aken