Maddie & Kiki on BBQ Beginnings, Sisterhood, and Their Dream-Come-True
Known as Canada’s favourite female grill masters, Maddie & Kiki are blazing their own trail in the BBQ world. With their signature mix of fun, fire, and fearless outdoor cooking, the sisters have inspired thousands through their live cooking shows, virtual classes, and down-to-earth attitude. Now, they’re bringing their energy to Gusto TV with their new show, Maddie & Kiki’s BBQ Barn, premiering August 2025. We caught up with the dynamic duo to talk about their grilling roots, behind-the-scenes mishaps, and what this next chapter means to them.
How did you both first get into grilling?
Maddie: We grew up with our mom being the main griller in our household. Our dad doesn’t barbeque at all—we like to tease him because he still doesn’t know how to use charcoal or a gas grill! But our mom, who we call BBQ Mama, is obsessed. She’s the one who inspired us.
Kiki: Our dad doesn’t even really like barbecue! Which is funny considering it’s our entire career. We always try to give him food and he’s like, “Hmm, a little too smoky.”
As sisters and business partners, how would you describe your approach to BBQ?
Maddie: From the start, our goal has been to show people that you can make anything on the grill—not just meat. We’ve made everything from desserts like Crème Brûlée to seafood like Honey-Orange-Jalapeno Glazed Samon Bites. Most people see it as a tool for burgers and ribs, but we treat it like an oven. It can do it all.
Kiki: We try to push people to think outside the box with BBQ. And that applies to our business too—we got into this when influencer marketing was just starting, and we had to think differently to get brands on board. That mindset—creative, non-traditional—shapes everything we do.
Do you have a favourite grilling tool or gadget you think everyone should own?
Kiki: A charcoal chimney. It’s not exactly a gadget, but it makes lighting charcoal so much easier without lighter fluid. We’ve introduced so many people to it over the years.
Maddie: We’re pretty anti-gadget overall. You don’t need a bunch of gear to make great barbecue. Keeping things simple and approachable is key.
Who are some of your personal BBQ or culinary inspirations?
Maddie: Besides Barbecue Mama, one of my biggest inspirations is Rob Rainford, host of Licence to Grill. It blew our minds when we were younger that there was a series dedicated just to grilling. We even had him on our live cooking show recently, and he was just as lovely in person.
Kiki: I love Jacques Pépin. He’s not a BBQ guy, but I admire his simplicity and how he makes everything sound so delicious.
If you could travel anywhere in the world on a grilling adventure, where would it be and why?
Maddie: That’s hard because grilling is universal. Every culture has some form of live-fire cooking. We’d go anywhere to talk barbecue with people around the world.
Kiki: Exactly! Whether it’s Portugal, Brazil, Greece, or Asia, people are grilling veggies, seafood, beans—not just meat. There’s so much to learn, and we’d love to see it all.
What advice would you give someone who’s just getting started with BBQ?
Maddie: Make what you want to make. Don’t feel like you have to stick to tradition. Our non-traditional approach is what helped us stand out.
Kiki: And don’t be afraid to fail. Mistakes are part of learning. We still make them! Like the time Maddie dropped a whole platter of smoked wings after hours of cooking. It happens.
Congratulations on Maddie & Kiki’s BBQ Barn! How does it feel to host your own show on Gusto TV?
Maddie: Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real. We started this journey 12 years ago, and this has always been on our vision board. It’s a dream come true.
Kiki: It feels very similar to our live cooking show—but way hotter! We film in the summer heat, and it gets toasty, but we’re having a blast.
How would you describe BBQ Barn to someone who’s never seen the show?
Kiki: It’s a rustic, eclectic mix of two sisters having fun where anything goes. It captures all the energy of our live show in a half-hour.
Maddie: It’s sweaty, it’s silly, it’s full of banter—and it’s very us.
Any exciting projects coming up beyond BBQ Barn?
Kiki: Our live show is still the thing we look forward to most every week!
Maddie: We’ve always dreamed of releasing a cookbook. We get asked about it all the time, and it’s definitely something we see happening in the future.
Maddie & Kiki’s BBQ Barn premieres August 4 at 7 PM ET on Gusto TV. Don’t miss the fun, the fire, and the sister-powered BBQ energy that’s making grilling more inclusive and exciting than ever.
