The Wild Earth Barrel Cooker

The barrel cooker came about from a simple combination of factors: the desire to smoke trout we'd landed from the Kawarau River next to the vineyard and an availability of old pinot noir barrels destined for the local garden centre as planters.

There was no grand strategy, just a recognition that a bit of heat and some manuka chips in a closed barrel would do a great smoking job. The idea kinda generated its own momentum and once we'd tasted how great the food was from the smoker, it was a short step to the cooker concept.

The barrel cooker is the wooden Weber of the 21st century: one used 225 litre pinot noir barrel made of French oak, a hinged lid, stainless steel grills in easy-access racking, a gas burner with self-ignition and thermostat. Ensure there's a couple of inches of water in the base to humidify and that's it. Simple, attractive and oh so effective.

A slow cooker anyone can use. Versatility from salmon to venison to poached fruit. Flavours to die for. A superb talking point. The perfect spot to put your drink when it's not in use. I've made quite a few barrel cookers so far - at least fifty - you can have your own, for a modest investment. Email me: quintin@wildearthwines.co.nz.

Here's a You Tube clip from Taste Auckland a couple of years ago click here - the Wild Earth barrel cooker in action!