With chicken from Bjärefågel on the grill has Burnt BBQ They won the Swedish Championship in chicken wings. But what is required to grill Sweden’s best chicken wings? For the team Burnt BBQ from Vaggeryd, success is about more than just the right temperature and seasoning. Behind the grill team stand two families who have united in a passion for cooking, community, and the desire to constantly improve their skills on the grill.
Community became the key to success
What started with an interest in cooking and a newly purchased grill has grown over the years into a passion for competitive grilling. For David, one of the team members, the interest took off when the family moved into a house. Soon the grill collection grew, a small spice shop was started in the basement, and grill catering became part of the business. Through visits to various grilling competitions, the idea of starting to compete on my own was eventually born.
Together, the family friends David Pohl, Anna Pohl, Cassandra Lundh and Kim Fogelberg formed the grill team Burnt BBQ. Today, the competitions are an integral part of the family’s lives, with both adults and children involved.
– You don’t go to a competition; you go and meet your thirty or forty best friends, says David.
For the team, the competitions are at least as much a social gathering place as a chance to measure their skills against other teams. The family atmosphere extends far beyond the own tent, and the sense of community is something David returns to when talking about the successes.
– I think the key to our success in the long run is that we have such a great team spirit and we know each other so well within the team.
The strong cohesion allows the team to be open with each other, help each other, and above all have fun together. They compete with their hearts, something that according to David is also reflected in the results.
SM gold in chicken wings
Over the past few years, Burnt BBQ has accumulated several impressive competition results. One of the biggest successes came at this year’s Swedish National Championships in chicken wings at the Fjäderfäfest festival in Lidköping, where the team took home the overall victory.”
Before the competitions, the team places great importance on preparation. Since the raw materials often come from specific suppliers, they train with the same products that they will use on the competition day. At this year’s Swedish Championships, it was chicken from Bjärefågel that was the focus.
The competition consisted of three categories, where the team impressed with both taste and craftsmanship. Bronze went to the Asian wings, silver in the hot wings category, and gold in the public vote, where the visitors themselves got to taste and vote for their favorite. Together, the placements reached all the way to the SM gold medal.
By getting to know the characteristics of the raw material, the team has developed cooking methods that suit their taste profile and grilling style.
– Bjärekyckling is a resilient bird that can withstand higher cooking temperatures than many other chicken products I have tried. This allows us to work with proper heat and achieve a truly crispy skin.
Behind the audience favorite lay a combination of smokiness, crispness, and sweet-sour flavors. The team first smoked the wings before frying them and turning them in a rhubarb sauce. Together with the team’s own competition seasoning, the result was flavorful chicken wings that won the audience’s votes!
The team's best trick at the grill
You don't need to compete at the national level to succeed with really good grilled chicken. For the team Burnt BBQ, it's all about getting to know your ingredients, your equipment, and daring to try new things.
When we ask the team for their best advice for the home cook, a clear tip comes out: Always use a thermometer.
But good equipment is only part of the secret.
– A good starter kit and then do it with love. That’s how it will be good. Practice, experiment and find your own way of doing it.
One of David's personal favorites to put on the grill is chicken thighs from Bjärefågel.
– The pheasant chicken thighs are fantastic. They are a bit fattier, which makes them extra juicy.
David says that he likes to smoke the chicken thighs with a good seasoning mixture, braise them with, for example, apple juice and butter, and finish with high heat on the grill.
The result is tender, flavorful chicken thighs that are perfect for serving with simple side dishes like tzatziki and cauliflower potatoes.
Whole chicken also has a natural place in cooking. By taking advantage of the entire bird, there are many possibilities to create multiple meals, from grilled favorites and everyday dishes to soups and flavorful broths.
The family is part of the winning recipe
For Burnt BBQ, competing is as much a family activity as a commitment to achieving great results. The children accompany the competitions and have become a natural part of the community. David’s son helps, among other things, to slice and serve chicken wings to the visitors, while he also likes to take the opportunity to sample what the other teams have to offer.
During the winter, there will be a quieter period before the preparations for the next competition season begin again. But even when the competition grills get a rest, the families continue to meet, socialize, and cook together.
For the friends at Burnt BBQ, grilling is about much more than competitions and medals. It’s the joy of cooking together, sharing experiences, and creating memories with loved ones that makes the real recipe for victory.
You can find Burnt BBQ on Instagram: www.instagram.com/burntbbq_pohlarns/
