Get Into The Groove: Origin BBQ's Latest Events!
- Victoria
- Aug 28
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 30
What a fab and fun couple of weeks we've had here at Origin Barbecue! The last time I wrote on the blog, we had just completed Deep In The Forest and were getting ready for New Forest Food Festival.
That was only two weeks ago, some great things have happened since.
I'll start by sharing our big news...
FOOD HYGIENE 5 STARS
I'm delighted to announce we've had our first New Forest District Council inspection and have been awarded a 5 star food hygiene rating!
We have been a relatively short time in business here, barely a year as Origin Barbecue.
The amount of time and effort that's been put into building the outdoor BBQ kitchen, stripping out and replacing the indoor prep kitchen, getting those all-important controls and records in place, (and an undisclosed but serious amount of investment in equipment), we are immensely proud of this achievement.
Being recognised as a 5* outfit by the Food Standards Agency is the point where we realise, this is no longer just a passion for BBQ, we are running a professional business!
We can confidently get involved in even more cool stuff with the reassurance that in the eyes of authority... we know what we're doing.
We just have to keep the standards high but with our dedicated and enthusiastic team, this is not an issue.
NEW FOREST FOOD FESTIVAL
As this year saw us the newcomers in this beautiful annual food and drink showcase. There were many amazing food vendors and the visitors had so much choice, so this naturally was a little daunting at first.
Our pitch was the last one at the end of the field, adjacent to the stage. We had the pit smoker set up to provide an authentic smoked flavour to our food.
Our 5-strong family-fielded team found ourselves busy with hungry people. keen to try our locally sourced low 'n' slow barbecue. It was full-on from 11am!
Following their noses, festival-goers were gravitating, keen to try tasty treats you can't get just anywhere, such as our "Texas country fair-style pork belly bites."
The pork belly bites sold out both days by mid afternoon thanks to our son (age 8) telling everyone they were "insane!"
Our ever-popular Butcher Joe's chuck steak cheese burgers went down a storm and opted for our Big Daddy burger - which is a Butcher Joe's topped with low 'n' slow Hampshire pork, homemade slaw, BBQ sauce and pickles.
The crowd-pleasing pulled pork sandwiches and dirty fries flew as we hoped; and the star of the show (alongside the belly bites) was the famous Andy Renyard burger, aka the New Forest Wild Venison, aka the Hinton Bandit. (We change its name depending on the event).
Locals and holidaymakers alike were enthusiastic for this unique offering, exclusive to Origin Barbecue. They loved hearing the backstory: that they were eating local wild venison that had been roaming the very fields it was now being BBQ'd on.
The venison was provided to us by Hinton Admiral Estate Gamekeeper Andy Renyard, who came to see us on our pitch to try one of our (his) venison burgers.
The New Forest is a magical place and it is a privilege to be able to prepare fresh, local, wild venison from this very soil. People seemed genuinely excited.
Would you believe, we even had a former vegan (who had been a strict vegan for several years), try a New Forest wild venison burger.
This lady made an exception because we presented such a wholesome, organic, untainted meat offering. As a friend of ours she is probably reading this, I wont name her... but she loved it!
JO'S 50th BIRTHDAY AND VERY SPECIAL GUESTS
A much loved part of our team at East Close Farm are Jo and Jamie of Backroom Productions.
Jo and Jamie provide the backline and PA equipment and collaborate on music, beer and food events with ourselves and Drop The Anchor Brewery.
The yard saw a private guest list of 150 party people join together last Saturday to celebrate Jo's 50th birthday.
We had back to back DJ sets through the afternoon including a collection of tunes by the Backroom Selectors (Jamie and Jo).
The Origin kitchen delivered a hot food service of Butcher Joe's classic cheeseburgers along with our signature street food offering - Beirut Bowls.
The Beirut Bowl is described as a “Lebanese mezza on fries,” topped with a choice of 16 hour low 'n' slow pulled spiced beef, shawarma or a spinach falafel vege option.
All that deliciousness was served with Lebanese mountain flatbreads, handmade using flour by Wildfarmed.
Origin Barbecue shares synergy with Wildfarmed because their brand ethos aligns: organic, regenerative, sustainable farming that's ethical and kind to the environment.
One of Wildfarmed’s co-founders is farmer and house music legend Andy Cato.
Andy took a road trip to us Saturday and tried our Beef Beirut Bowl, with a Wildfarmed mountain bread on the side.
Andy’s DJ partner Tom Findlay, who also arrived at East Close Farm, popped over to our counter and ordered a Shawarma Bowl.
As much as I would love to say they had travelled all the way down just to eat our food, (which they both said they loved!)…they had made the trip down for one special lady, and that’s birthday girl Jo.
If you're into house music and the names Andy Cato and Tom Findlay ring a bell, you'll know... they are prolific artists in the music industry who perform under stage name Groove Armada.
So here's the connection... Jo and partner Jamie of Backroom Productions work with Groove Armada, as the tour management team.
The Groove guys wanted to help Jo, family and friends celebrate her big birthday, which they did in legendary fashion… They rocked a full DJ set as the “very special guests!"
It was tune after tune of house music classics mixed with cool remixes, including their own iconic banger, "Superstylin."
There was even some disco thrown in to the set, building the type of energy that got even the non-dancers up dancing.
What a hip and stylish way for Jo, to celebrate her 50th! Drinks flowing, barn bouncing, it was epic!
I remember enjoying Groove Armada’s music back in the days when they became a prominent feature in the industry (in the mid 90's), so it had a nostalgic feel for me.
I still can't believe they played in our humble little barn. We were so blessed to have them, and it’s all thanks to Jo and Jamie.
Special thanks to DJs Beerwax, CallMeCharlie and Bobcat who smashed out some awesome warm-up sessions.
The barn also witnessed a rising star, 14-year-old Leo Barnes rock his debut live DJ set! It was a proud moment for the family, including his uncle Jamie and aunty Jo.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR ORIGIN BBQ?
Let's keep the fun times and good vibes flowing! Here are the next instalments, you're invited!...
Friday 29th August: Burger Night!
Make this Friday night a tasty one, come on down and try our Hinton Bandit (New Forest Venison Burger), served with cheddar cheese, plum chutney, lettuce, tomato and onion. Beef and vege options also available.
Saturday 30th August: Vintage Tractor Charity Fundraising Event for Cardiac Risk In the Young (CRY).
Expect vintage tractors and engines in action! Steam, ploughing and welly throwing galore in the Drop The Anchor barley field! (If you're not sure how to find this, come to East Close Farm and we will direct you).
Origin Barbecue are cooking up a breakfast of bacon and sausage baps from 10am om the field and teas and coffees will be available from our Drop The Anchor friends.
From 1pm, we have our fire cooking brethren Chris Chops Taylor and Lee Morton of Berro Kitchen doing a lovely pizza popup in the yard at East Close Farm.
These fire masters are set to bake some delicious nettle sourdough pizzas using Wildfarmed flour, in the Gozney Pizza ovens.
I can't tell you how delicious they are! The picture below is making my mouth water!
Our fam at Drop The Anchor Brewery opens the taphouse at 12pm to serve their marvellous array of award-winning beers, wines and soft drinks. They will keep you refreshed all day!
Entertainment-wise, we've got it covered! Chris for a change is not cooking, he is going back to what he did before lighting fires at Origin Barbecue... lighting up decks!
On Saturday he is 'DJ Bignose,' back to back with our much loved resident DJ Goldchain Paul. They are playing an eclectic collection of music in the barn from 3pm.
If you can't make it down on Saturday, we are also open Sunday from 1pm with Berro Kitchen serving their delicious nettle sourdough pizzas again.
I can't wait to eat yummy pizza two days in a row!
Friday 5th and Saturday 6th September: Sizzlefest at SoCal BBQ Shop, Southampton.
This year we are due to celebrate the 5th annual Sizzlefest! We invite you to be a part of this popular fire food and music event for the BBQ community that promises to be the best showcase yet! Details and tickets here!
Thank you to everyone who supports all that we do here at Origin Barbecue. It is a pleasure to have you on board this journey with us!
Big love,
Victoria, Chris and the Origin Team.
A great atmosphere, with superb food from Chris and Victoria and the crew, tasty beer from Neil and his team at Drop The Anchor, and the best music around