In a previous life – where things could involve catering for a lot of people – my old caravan was known as the TSV – or Triathlon Support Vehicle and was used as the base for ten or so, as well as having family holidays where there would be five hungry people to BBQ for – and i had a Cadac Carri Chef 2.

This was a wonderful piece of kit, but too big to use rust for the two of us. I had acquired a cheap get by BBQ from amazon last year, but i wanted something that was – in simple terms – better.

Because I was impressed with my Old Cadac, i researched and came across the Cadac Grillo Chef which is just the right size for Jo and myself as its 40cm in diameter.

In use, I think that you can easily cook / cater for 4 with generous portions of dead animal. I have found that the key is not to try and cook too much at once, and to use the different parts of the grill area to cook and keep warm – its easy to do when you try it!

The BBQ is brilliant – but does have a couple of small niggles. I bought a quick release valve for the regulator – yes it was only £7 or so – but i think that should have been a basic feature – but – it is worth the money in my opinion as it makes set up easier.

There is – as an optional extra – a hook system to use with the Cadac BUT – it’s too wide so actually stops the lid from fitting closely. (i am in the process of designing something with Sulk Major that may well be a great solution for those of us who use portable BBQs – watch this space!)

Finally – the lid design seems to me to be crack handed – there is built into the lid, a lip that you can use to hook onto the side of the BBQ to allow you to turn stuff over etc – but the lip seems to be the wrong way round if you are right handed…. It may be operator error, but it may be something i will have to look at further.

So – to sum up. By shopping around you can get the base BBQ for around £150. I would consider the quick release valve important – so all in around £160. Optional extras that i do rate are the pizza stone – remember that Ziggy has no oven so this is a given for us! Other pans and bits are there – but would be down to individual choice / need.

The design is simply elegant – even a Sulk Minor can assemble the tripod and be ready to cook in under 5 minutes. The tripod stand is very sturdy, and i do like the integration of the gas connector into that tripod. When not in use it does pack down into its own carrying bag that does have decent individual compartments – and the bag that comes with it does have some spare compartments for extras like the pizza stone. The design / fat collector makes it a doddle to clean the detritus from the BBQ.

The acid question is – have i seen better, or could i have bought a better BBQ for our needs – and that’s a resounding NO – i would recommend this BBQ to any one

• Chef Pan 40
• Removable Pot Stand
• Removable Fat Pan with Flame Peep Holes
• Push Button Piezo Ignition
• Tripod Legs with Gas Valve
• Storage Bag Included
• Propane / Butane Compatible Lid with Thermometer and Stay-Cool Handle
• Ceramic BBQ Grid
• Chef Pan 40
• Removable Pot Stand
• Removable Fat Pan with Flame Peep Holes
• Push Button Piezo Ignition
• Tripod Legs with Gas Valve
• Storage Bag Included
• Propane / Butane Compatible

• Dome Lid with Thermometer and Stay-Cool Handle
• Ceramic BBQ Grid
• Chef Pan 40
• Removable Pot Stand
• Removable Fat Pan with Flame Peep Holes
• Push Button Piezo Ignition
• Tripod Legs with Gas Valve
• Storage Bag Included
• Propane / Butane Compatible