BBQ Heroes: Melissa Thompson

Welcome to BBQ Heroes - Dishpatch's summer spotlight on professional and amateur chefs who live and love to grill.

Melissa Thompson is an award-winning writer and chef whose debut book Motherland: A Jamaican Cookbook is published this September. She speaks passionately on issues of identity, diversity and inclusivity within the British food industry, and recently chaired the British Library's food season panel discussions. A week doesn't go by on Instagram when Melissa isn't sharing her tantalising grilling and smoking results - from goat tacos to roasted breadfruit. We can't wait to check out her food at Meatopia this year.

What’s your BBQ set up at home?

I have a few barbecues though I've recently trimmed my collection to avoid my partner kicking me out of the house. I've got a Weber Master-Touch Kettle (my favourite), a Weber Smoke Fire which is great for smoking, especially fish, and a Genesis gas barbecue. I also have a Kamado Joe Classic ceramic barbecue, and a portable Weber Smokey Joe which is really cute.

Your favourite dishes for the grill:

I love a bone-in steak such as sirloin. I also love whole fish such as sea bass or a turbot if I'm feeling flush. And you cannot beat a courgette grilled over fire.

Share your secret BBQ tip:

Use the barbecue's vents constantly to control the heat, as often as you change the temperature on your hob at home.

Who’s coming over?

Viola Davis - just read her autobiography and she likes her food and I like her. Oprah, Joan Armatrading, Nigella, plus all my mates and my family - what I love about a barbecue is having loads of people round together.

What’s on the playlist?

Anything from the Encanto soundtrack to Foo Fighters to Carly Rae Jepsen and Tinchy Stryder.

Must-have sauce:

My tamarind sauce. The recipe is in my forthcoming book, Motherland.

Who’s your BBQ hero?

Sadly I don't know their names as they never got credit for it, but the first people to jerk animals in the mountains of Jamaica, and then the Black pitmasters of the American South who laid the foundations for American barbecue.