Since 2015, Girls Can Grill has been cooking up a storm and motivating more women to get behind the grill. Christie Vanover's passion for barbecue has made her a delightful social media sensation, and we're loving every bite. Grilling has never been easier, with a vast array of tasty morsels and delicious recipes neatly arranged on girlscangrill.com. So move over fellas, with the help of Girls Can Grill, we can find the grill master within us all!
Let's dig in and find out more about Christie Vanover and the Girls Can Grill custom kicks in this juicy interview:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and Girls Can Grill?
I was born in California, but moved a lot throughout my life. I've lived in nine states and three countries and currently live in Las Vegas. I'm married with two fur babies (dogs). I started Girls Can Grill in 2015 to showcase how fun and easy grilling can be and to encourage more women to give it a shot. I became a competitive pitmaster in 2016.
How did you get your start in the world of grilling?
I didn't learn to grill until I was in my early 20s. After I got married, I enjoyed meals my father-in-law cooked on the grill, and I became his shadow, learning all of his tips and tricks. Since then, I've lived around the world and picked up different techniques and recipe influences. One day, I realized that I was cooking more and more meals outdoors, even breakfast and dessert. I now own around 20 grills, with a variety of gas, charcoal and pellet.
Can you tell us a bit about the team of ladies that you work with?
I'm the pitmaster for Team Girls Can Grill, a professional barbecue competition team. I'm the solo pitmaster, but I couldn't do what I do without my teammates, who include my husband and my in-laws. In addition to competition barbecue, I like to promote other women who are bad asses behind the grill through my blog and social media. I also invite women to cook with me at competitions, so they can get a taste of competition barbecue.
Where do you find inspiration when creating new recipes?
A lot of times my recipes are based on monthly themes and holidays, but they all have influence from my travels around the world. I've visited 22 countries and 44 states, and I've lived in Europe and Asia. I also attended some patisserie short courses at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris to improve my baking skills. My philosophy is that anything that can be cooked in the kitchen can be cooked outdoors.
Speaking of recipes, do you have current favourites that we should try out?
I'm really proud of one of my recent recipes for grilled pork chops. It involves a quick basic cook, but is finished with a flavourful cumin-orange marmalade. My grilled cioppino is my favourite camp-out recipe. You just set the pot on a grate over the coals and dump in a variety of shellfish, veggies and wine.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
I wouldn't mind cloning myself. I actually have a full-time job in addition to my grilling business. If I had a clone, I could send her to work, while I spent my days outdoors by the grill with my pups.
What’s your favourite thing to do in your hometown/city?
I live in Las Vegas, so a lot of people probably assume I'd say something fun and flashy on the strip, but I actually love hiking, camping and fishing at Lake Mead. We have a lot of awesome public lands, parks and trails in the area. It's the side of Vegas a lot of people don't know about.
If you had to pick one shoe to wear for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chuck Low Tops for sure. They're so comfy, and with so many colors, they go with every outfit.
Can you tell us a little bit about your Girls Can Grill x Baggins Original design?
When I'm competing, I'm on my feet a lot. I was looking for the perfect shoe that made a statement. I wanted a pair that showed off some fun grilling accessories, but emphasized my brand "Girls Can Grill." I shared some art with Anna in the design department, and she totally wowed me. I'm in love with the results – so much so that I had to order a reversed out version in black.
Do you have any tips or secrets that you would be willing to share?
The most important tip when it comes to grilling is that you should cook to temp, not time. Every grill is a little different. They're just not as precise as an oven, which is part of the fun. So instead of setting a timer, I set a thermometer. Each meat gets cooked to a precise temp to ensure juiciness.
Do you have any advice for other women who are thinking about diving into the world of BBQ?
Go for it! It's fun, rewarding and relaxing. And don't worry if you mess up every now and then. I still make mistakes and get distracted by life. If you have questions, I'm always here to help. Reach out to me on social media at @girlscangrill. I'm happy to answer all of your questions.
What’s next for Girls Can Grill?
I will continue to focus on the basics and share recipes and tips with everyone who wants to learn to grill because that's what my site is all about. I also have more competitions planned for 2018 and a few other exciting things in the works that I can't quite announce yet.
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With online community so full of passion, it’s no wonder both women and men alike are turning to Girls Can Grill for all things barbecue. So find your favourite recipe, grab some tongs, get outside and start grilling in some Baggins Original Girls Can Grill shoes today!
Head over to girlscangrill.com now for an abundance of scrumptious easy to follow recipes and tutorials for the meat eater and veggie alike! Learn how to grill all your favourite summer sizzlers and be the hit of the next cookout!
Follow @girlscangrill on Instagram and Twitter for more mouth watering recipes! Don't forget to like Girls Can Grill on Facebook for tasty updates and announcements! We can't wait to see what's next for Christie and Girls Can Grill!
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