From cooking Umu with his dad to building a name in New Zealand's BBQ scene, Moe's journey has taken him from a shop, to the Soul Food Festival, and beyond.

In this episode, we sit down for a yarn about his journey into low & slow BBQ, the realities of running a food business, helping others with the foodpreneur club and what it takes to turn a passion for cooking into something more. We talk cooking, helping other food businesses grow, and what's happening in the NZ food scene.

We also get into the BBQ itself — favourite meats and woods, common backyard cooking mistakes, and what people tend to overcomplicate. Along the way, we talk about failure, family, and how his idea of success has changed over the years.

It's an honest conversation about BBQ, business, and the people behind it, with a few laughs and a quick-fire round to finish.

Check out Soul Food Fest - Auckland, 20 March 2027

Instagram: @soulfoodfest_nz

Follow the team: @moeandmarika

What is it about a Kiwi BBQ that makes everyone want to come round for a feed?

Today we look at the classic Kiwi gathering — the BBQ going, food everywhere, bringing a plate, a few drinks, plenty of stories, and usually enough leftovers to feed everyone twice.

From sausages and steak to brisket, pulled pork and smoked meats. Low & slow BBQ might have changed what we're cooking, but the reason we cook it hasn't really changed.

Because sometimes the food isn't actually the point. It's the people around the table, the conversations, the laughs, and having an excuse to get everyone together.

Low & Slow Aotearoa isn't just about smoking meat. It's about what happens around the smoker.

And at the end of the episode, I tease an upcoming interview 🤫

Charcoal smokers can make dam good BBQ — but they can also be super frustrating.

Today, I have a yarn about why some backyard cooks are moving from charcoal smokers to pellet smokers. Temperature swings, fuel management, changing weather and those overnight cooks can make charcoal a lot of work.

But is convenience actually the point of low & slow BBQ? We look at what pellet smokers make easier, what you might lose by stepping away from the fire, and why there's something satisfying about learning to manage charcoal, wood and your smoker.

This isn't charcoal vs pellets. It's about finding the smoker that makes you actually want to cook.

Because whether you're managing a fire all day or pressing a button, we're all here for the same thing.

Delicious Low and Slow BBQ.