May 29, 2015 – This week the restaurant brokers are talking about America’s favorite pastime: Grilling! The guests of this week’s show answer those all-important questions like, “Who’s behind the grill? What are the secrets to great grilling? Charcoal or gas? Marinate or dry rub? To Smoke or Not to Smoke? The Restaurant Brokers are taking on the topic loved by chefs as well as those at home.
Linkie Marais, a contestant on the Food Network’s hit series, Next Food Network Star told the restaurant brokers that some of the hot trends she sees with grilling include “People using their smart phones to keep track of temperatures on the grill.” The South African award-winning baker and grill master tells our audience of foodies, restauranteurs and would-be restaurant owners that the most interesting thing she’s prepared on the grill is a doughnut! When asked whether she was for charcoal or gas grilling, she says, “I absolutely love charcoal…love the flavor you get from charcoal.”
Chef DP Johnson, the other guest on this week’s show markets himself as a “Roadside Celebrity Chef” and has a loyal following in South Florida. Known for his conch fritters and spice line under the name Sabroso Sauce, chef says “Cooking outdoors is a challenge.”
Tune into the entire restaurant radio show live on Atlanta radio station WGKA 920 The Answer on Saturday at noon or the rebroadcast Sunday at 1 PM on Biz 1190.
This Week’s Guests:
Chef Linkie Marais
Beauty queen, award-winning baker and grill master are all extensions to her title, making Linkie Marais more than your average chef. With a love for exploring, cooking and the outdoors, her will to grill stems all the way back to her unique blend of South African and Southern roots. Born in South Africa, Linkie was raised in the kitchen. With a lack of abundant fresh ingredients, she inherited her mother’s creativity, utilizing whatever they had available to create fresh and original meals.
Immigrating to the U.S. in 1999, Linkie and her family settled in Tupelo, Mississippi she obtained a degree in Culinary Arts from Mississippi University for Women. She held various pastry and executive chef positions. In 2012, Linkie accepted the opportunity of a lifetime to compete on Food Network’s hit series, Next Food Network Star.
Her experience on the show was, in her words, “crazy”. “It’s like driving a fast car—fun but unpredictable.” It forced her to push her limits and take creativity to a new level. After discovering her love for grilling
during a Big Green Egg Competition, Linkie’s passion for grilling began to take her career in a new and exciting direction. It’s clear that her meat-filled and resourceful South African culinary upbringing has had a tremendous in-pact on her cooking flair, as Linkie is considered the best among the few females who have mastered the art of grilling.