Media & Press | Chef Mike Belobradic – Smoke Fire Grill

Canada’s Northern Barbecue™ Authority in Oakville, Specializing in Authentic Hardwood, Live-Fire Cooking

Chef Mike Belobradic:
BBQ Expert and Founder of Smoke Fire Grill
Oakville, Ontario, Canada

This media page provides press-ready bios, expert topics, quotes, and contact information for interviews and features.

BBQ Chef Mike Belobradic

Media Summary (Press Ready)

Mike Belobradic is a Canadian BBQ chef, live-fire cooking authority, and founder of Smoke Fire Grill, based in Oakville, Ontario. With more than 25 years of experience, formal culinary training, and WSET accreditation in Wine and Spirits, Mike specializes in authentic hardwood and lump charcoal cooking.

Trained in Texas and North Carolina, and a former KCBS Barbecue Judge, he is the creator of the Northern Barbecue™ Method—a curriculum-based, live-fire learning system that blends Canadian-style grilling, Southern barbecue foundations, and global fire-cooking traditions through a distinctly Canadian lens. His work bridges professional culinary standards with backyard fire culture, making him a trusted voice for media, brands, and food communities across Canada.

Why Media Contact Mike

Mike is available for interviews, features, panels, podcasts, and expert commentary on:

  • Authentic hardwood barbecue and live-fire cooking

  • Backyard barbecue culture in Canada

  • The Northern Barbecue™ Method as a curriculum-based approach to learning live-fire cooking

  • Global wood-fired cooking styles and techniques

  • Brick oven pizza and high-heat fire cooking

  • Food and beverage pairing for live-fire meals

  • Skill development and learning pathways for backyard barbecue cooks

  • And almost any topic to do with backyard barbecue

Credentials & Authority

Founder, Smoke Fire Grill (Oakville, Ontario)

  • 25+ years of hardwood barbecue and live-fire cooking experience

  • Formal culinary training (culinary school grad)

  • WSET Accredited in Wine and Spirits

  • Former KCBS (Kansas City Barbeque Society) Barbecue Judge

  • Trained in Texas and North Carolina barbecue traditions

  • Mentor and coach to backyard pitmasters across Ontario and Canada

Short Bio (80 words)

Chef Mike Belobradic is the founder of Smoke Fire Grill and one of Canada’s leading backyard barbecue chefs, based in Oakville, Ontario. With more than 25 years of experience, formal culinary training, and WSET accreditation in Wine and Spirits, Mike specializes in authentic hardwood and lump charcoal cooking. Trained in Texas and North Carolina and a former KCBS Barbecue Judge, he is the creator of the Northern Barbecue™ Method, a curriculum-based approach to learning live-fire cooking through a Canadian lens.

Long Bio (175 words)

Chef Mike Belobradic is a Canadian BBQ chef, live-fire cooking authority, and founder of Smoke Fire Grill, based in Oakville, Ontario. His journey into hardwood barbecue began in North Carolina and Texas, where he immersed himself in traditional southern barbecue culture. Bringing those influences back to Canada, Mike committed himself to mastering and teaching authentic fire-based cooking.

With more than 25 years of hands-on experience, formal culinary training, and time as a KCBS Barbecue Judge, Mike blends professional kitchen standards with the spirit of backyard barbecue. He is WSET-accredited in Wine and Spirits, allowing him to approach live-fire meals as a complete culinary experience, from the fire to the glass.

Mike is recognized for developing the Northern Barbecue™ Method, a curriculum-based system designed to help outdoor cooks build real skill in live-fire cooking. The method draws from global hardwood traditions, including Brazilian churrasco, Croatian open-fire grilling, Spanish asado, Japanese binchotan techniques, and many others. Through Smoke Fire Grill, he continues to mentor aspiring backyard cooks and foster a growing community around intentional, skill-driven fire cooking.

Signature Quotes

“You’ve heard of Southern BBQ. I call this Northern Barbecue.”
– Mike Belobradic

“Fire is the original kitchen. My job is to respect it, enhance it, and share it with others.”
– Mike Belobradic

The Smokehouse (Background for features)

At the heart of Smoke Fire Grill is The Smokehouse, a purpose-built outdoor kitchen in Oakville, Ontario inspired by southern barbecue restaurants and designed around real hardwood fire. The space features multiple hardwood-fired smokers, dedicated prep and cooking zones, and a wood-fired brick oven that anchors the kitchen.

The brick oven is known for many dishes, but particularly for handcrafted pizza made with a homemade dough, producing more than six regional pizza styles, from classic Neapolitan and Roman traditions to North American and European interpretations. The Smokehouse serves as both a culinary workspace and a gathering place for community, education, and live-fire experiences.

Suggested Story Angles

  • The rise of Chef Mike’s trademark Northern Barbecue™ Method as a curriculum-based approach to learning live-fire cooking, blending Canadian grilling traditions with global fire-cooking techniques

  • Why real hardwood matters even more in an age of automation and pellet grills

  • How backyard barbecue is becoming a serious culinary movement in Canada

  • Teaching the next generation of pitmasters through coaching and mentorship

  • Pairing wine and spirits with live-fire cuisine

  • Brick oven pizza as part of modern outdoor kitchen culture

Media Assets

High-resolution images and brand assets are available upon request:

  • Professional headshots

  • Live-fire and Smokehouse action photography

  • Brick oven and pizza imagery

  • Smoke Fire Grill logos

Media Contact

Mike Belobradic
Founder & Chef, Smoke Fire Grill
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Email: mike.belobradic@gmail.com
Visit the Newsroom for News Releases

FAQs

Who is Chef Mike Belobradic?

1

Mike Belobradic is a Canadian BBQ chef and live-fire cooking authority based in Oakville, Ontario, and the founder of Smoke Fire Grill. He is known for specializing in authentic hardwood barbecue and a Canadian approach called “Northern BBQ.”

What is Northern Barbecue™?

2

Northern Barbecue™ is Chef Mike Belobradic’s curriculum-based method for learning hardwood and live-fire cooking. It combines Canadian grilling foundations with global wood-fired techniques, designed to help backyard cooks build real skill through intentional practice.

Where is Smoke Fire Grill based?

3

Smoke Fire Grill is based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, and serves barbecue enthusiasts, aspiring pitmasters, and culinary communities across the country.

What topics can Chef Mike Belobradic speak about?

4

Chef Mike speaks on authentic hardwood barbecue, live-fire cooking, and skill development through the Northern Barbecue™ Method (along with his own journey that led him there). He also speaks about global fire-cooking traditions, brick oven pizza, backyard barbecue culture, and food and beverage pairing for fire-based meals.

For interviews, features, speaking engagements, and partnerships, media professionals are encouraged to contact Chef Mike Belobradic directly.

Read more about Chef Mike in this post. Read more about Mike’s trademark Northern Barbecue™ in this post.