From drumming on global tours to selling out a backyard supper club months in advance, Matty O’Brien – the mastermind behind Matty’s BBQ Chop Shop – is bringing his fire-stoked secrets straight to home kitchens with the launch of his debut cookbook, Boots and Bare Hands. Matty will be in conversation with broadcaster and 44Group co-founder Owen Morgan, in what we know is going to be a very special event!

Boots and Bare Hands is a deeply personal and practical guide to live-fire cooking, reflecting the creativity, precision and passion that have made Matty’s Penarth cul-de-sac a must-visit destination for food lovers. In the book, he takes readers through everything from preparing premium cuts of beef, pork, poultry and seafood to mastering smoking, brining and the techniques that elevate everyday meals into something extraordinary. Beyond the barbecue, Boots and Bare Hands shows how to bring these skills into a busy family week, with midweek meals and clever kitchen hacks designed for home cooks of all levels.

Matty O’Brien: Matty’s journey is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Two years ago, he ran his pop-up events from a domestic oven and a single chip tray. Today, ten smokers hum in his backyard and his “cue fine dining” experiences have caught the attention of Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt, who called his short rib a “need to try” dish. Alongside his wife, Lowri, and children, Rune and Red, Matty has built a community hub where the thrill of cooking live over fire mirrors the adrenaline of his days on stage.

This is more than a cookbook: it’s an invitation into the Chop Shop experience, the haphazard museum aesthetic of antiques and Americana, and the philosophy that world-class barbecue can fit into everyday life. An event not to be missed for food lovers, home cooks and anyone curious about the live-fire revolution happening right here in Penarth.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Matty O’Brien will be in conversation with Owen Morgan (around 60 minutes), followed by an audience Q&A (15 mins). Matty will then be available after the ‘in-conversation’ part of the event to sign books and add a personal dedication.

The first 100 tickets sold (with book included) will also receive an exclusive Boots and Bare Hands tote bag!

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Wednesday 6 May | 7.30 pm
The Paget Rooms, Penarth
Tickets: From £5.00
BOOK NOW: griffinbooksevents.co.uk