By Breanna Taylor
What do you get when you cross four true blue Australian barbecue chefs, a retired football icon and a backyard grill? A Sunday morning cooking show so good it will leave you rushing out of the house to the nearest brisket supplier.
Two Pakenham locals have taken their passion for grilling and all things meat, transforming their poultry passions into a source of entertainment for all Australian’s armed with tongs and an apron looking to impress at their next backyard barbecue.
Dean Schumann, a competition barbecue participant from Lakeside had a dream he would one day feature on a backyard cooking show and now, two years on, is living that exact fantasy with 3 of his fellow grilling mates, including Pakenham resident Justin ‘Juzzy’ Gradon.
“The premise of the idea was four Aussie blokes cooking barbecue minus all the other drama that most cooking shows promote. We didn’t want the focus to be about celebrity judges, eliminations and high pressure cook offs, just backyard barbecue with no competition teaching the average guy and girl how to cook.”
Having known a producer for MCW productions, Dean brought the idea to the table and after two tireless years of pitching, promoting and sourcing sponsorships he alongside MCW promotions secured a Sunday morning slot for their creation ‘Dippers Backyard BBQ Wars.’
As all network cooking shows feature a celebrity flare, Dean’s show is no different with retired football superstar Robert ’The Big Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, aiding the boys in their grilling adventures.
“We have been so lucky to secure not only Dipper but a range of celebrity guests thanks to the guys at MCW,” says Dean, “Richie Vandenberg, Barry Michaels and Merv Hughes just to name a few. They all jump in and judge each week, its great fun.”
Working alongside Dean is Pakenham father and husband Justin Gradon who has also competed frequently in barbecue competitions. Justin, Dean and fellow barbecue mates Scott Mech Gould and Matt ‘Booma’ Bromage all bonded over a shared love of “damn good brisket,’ and feature as the shows backyard grill chefs.
“Dean and I were friends through the circles of online barbecue chats and he was familiar with my business. He approached me and told me I would be a great fit for a show he had in the works. The rest is really history.”
Justin who has been an avid barbecue fan for years started his own business’ JG BBQ’ which has received great exposure being promoted on national television.
Referring to the filming process as “surreal,” Justin says he was in awe of all the hard work happening behind the camera that often goes unnoticed by watching audiences. Cooking meat for a series of football legends is something he says he won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
“We filmed on location all over Victoria smashing out eight episodes in seven days. We travelled various places like Somerville, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Myrtleford. I had an absolute ball. Hanging with my best mates and a legend like Dipper cooking barbecue, honestly what’s not to love?”
Speaking of the financial costs, Dean says the show’s sponsors were a tremendous help in allowing the boys to cook great quality cuts of meat including $200 brisket and whole squids.
Alongside many numerous sponsors is Pakenham butcher shop Heritage Springs Meats who provided the protein in the Pakenham episode set to air on Sunday 12 May.
Part owner, Shaun Riley who is a personal friend of Dipper said “we felt that this would be a great way to get our beautiful new store on the map and make it a destination for not only locals but people throughout Victoria.”
With eight episodes set to air on channel 7Mate, both Dean and Justin have agreed that though the process was extensive and hard at times, seeing their dream prevail makes it all worthwhile.
“This has taken so much time, from the initial pitch to the twelve months of production. MCW and I worked so hard and our timeframe was frequently delayed and pushed back,” Dean said. “Sitting around the television on Easter Sunday with the family watching the first episode I saw my kids absolutely beaming that their dad was on telly. It was a great day.”
Justin’s children Archer and Abby were also super proud of dad. “I got the family around to watch and cooked a steak, my two kids didn’t quite understand at first, they kept looking at me and back at the TV but they loved it.”
Dipper’s backyard BBQ Wars airs every Sunday morning at 9:30am.
