Rapid Fire with Grill Master’s Maddie & Kiki
Maddie & Kiki, Canada’s favourite female Grill Masters, have earned recognition as two of the Top 10 Grill Experts in North America and are regularly featured in Forbes.
As the hosts of Gusto TV’s BBQ Barn, they’ve built a loyal following across the U.S. and Canada, inspiring audiences through morning shows, podcasts, radio, and live events. Their mission? To share their love of outdoor cooking and prove that grilling is for everyone.
Beyond the spotlight, Maddie & Kiki run The Grill Studio—a repurposed barn transformed into a state-of-the-art media space—where they host a lively cooking show every Friday at 12:00 PM EST.
We sat down with Maddie & Kiki to get to know the dynamic duo behind the grill and learn what fuels their passion.
Gas or charcoal?
We have to go with both! We need them both.
Sweet or smoky BBQ sauce?
Maddie: Sweet because I’m sweet.
Kiki: Smoky, all the way.
Ribs or brisket?
Don’t hate us, but we have to go with both again.
Best veggie to grill?
Hands down, celery root. Smoke it or throw it right on the coals, cowboy style.
Mose underrated cut of meat?
Flank steak. If you marinate it properly, you’ll never eat something better.
Beer or cocktail with BBQ?
Beer, cocktail or mocktail, BBQ pairs with everything.
Favourite BBQ region?
Canada, obviously.
Most common grilling mistake?
Not preheating the grill grates. Don’t spray it or rub an onion on it. Just let it preheat and nothing will stick.
First thing you ever grilled?
Hot dogs! When we went from boiling to grilling them, that was a game-changer.
Who’s more competitive at the grill?
Definitely Kiki as the younger sister.