Our Guide To The Most Unique Experiences At This Year’s Big Grill Festival

It's only a matter of days until Herbert Park (literally) lights up as Europe's Largest BBQ Festival, The Big Grill, kicks off.

The foodie festival that celebrates all things fire and smoke draws revellers in their thousands (20,000 to be exact), so if you're heading along - you'd better be armed with a solid plan.

We've already broken down the lineup for you here, but with so much to choose from we thought it fitting to pick out a couple of really unique treats not to be missed.

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1. Hot Wing and Chilli Challenges

If you've been reading the site of late, you'll know that we're fond of a food challenge.

So we were thrilled to learn that the wildly popular wildly popular crowd pleaser Hot Wing and Chilli Challenges are back, bigger and better than ever.

Watch brave souls who think they can take the heat live on stage.

Here's a taster of what you can expect

2. Living Wilderness Bushcraft School

Fancy yourself as a bit of a Bear Grylls? Get a taste of what’s involved in living in the great outdoors with Johnny and Claire from Living Wilderness Bushcraft School.

Our resident experts will set up camp in Herbert Park for the weekend running talks, masterclasses and hands on bushcraft skills.

They'll focus on the five core topics of bushcraft – fire, water, shelter, food and craft, and teach the basics of how to get out and about and enjoy bushcrafting in the woodland (and of course how to cook in the outdoors.)

On Saturday and Sunday the classes are family friendly and a great way for children and adults to get into nature together and have some good old fashioned fun.

3. Offside

Part of the fun of a festival like The Big Grill is the buzz of the crowds - but if you do need a little break from the madness - Offside is your best bet.

What's Offside you ask? It's an intimate, private dining area focusing on nose-to-tail treats, cooked on the Parilla alongside carefully curated drinks.

Sounds good, doesn't it - it's no surprise that Offside seats are a hot commodity.

There's only 20 seats available for each experience - situated around the grill, you will be up close and personal with each chef, who will serve a surprise menu designed around the whole animal with a focus on offal and all the forgotten bits.

Not to be missed is the Hunter Gather Cook, Wild Game Feast, hosted by Nick Weston and Dave Fennings using an array of locally foraged ingredients, wild rabbit, and pigeon paired with wild cocktails and natural wines. A chance to get a taster of Hunter Gather Cooks infamous course days and feasts held at their Sussex Treehouse.

There are a few spaces left also for the ‘Parilla’ – An Argentinian Asado by Rama Basilio and Andy Noonan featuring Argentinian Asado with wines from Mendoza and paired beers.

For the full lineup and to book tickets head to the The Big Grill website or check out The Big Grill out on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.