Here at Alisal Ranch we pride ourselves in our Western hospitality which includes some of the best BBQ in the West. With the help of our BBQ Bootcamp 2022 Guest Instructors and our very talented culinary team, we are mighty excited to share tips and tricks to have you grilling like a pro. If you want to enjoy some amazing barbecue and learn how to take your grilling game to the next level, our fall BBQ Bootcamp is just for you. On October 9th and 10th we will be bringing some of the nation’s top chefs and grill masters to Alisal Ranch where they will prepare indulgent grilled feasts and share their barbecue secrets. Top local vintners will also be on hand to pour their latest vintages. After a day of adventure on the Ranch, you are sure to have worked up an appetite. This is a great time to get away and treat yourself to a luxury vacation, eat amazing food and learn from the best in BBQ. Click here for past BBQ Bootcamp menus.
October 9—11, 2022
Double occupancy ACCOMMODATIONS — 2 NIGHTS
This Experience Includes:
- Accommodations for 2-nights, double occupancy (Sunday – Tuesday)
- All meals including special dinners with local celebrity chefs, winemakers and brew masters
- A selection of alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages at our bars & restaurants
- Workshops on grilling methods & equipment, BBQ instruction, spice blending, and more
- Special event keepsakes
- Breakfast ride to Historic Adobe by hay wagon
Limited availability. Adults only. Plus tax and service charges.
Book By Phone Now
BBQ Bootcamp 2022 Guest Instructors
In 2022, we’ll have guest favorites and new superstar chefs like Valerie Gordon, Burt Bakman, Shirley Chung and Bricia Lopez. The visiting chefs will join Alisal Ranch’s culinary team as they serve up grilled feasts and reveal the tips and tricks for creating legendary BBQ. Stay tuned for the full lineup of guest chefs!
FEATURED CHEF VALERIE GORDON
Valerie Gordon’s business acumen and warm, entertaining charm lend themselves to her extensive brand, including the flagship retail boutique Valerie Confections in South Silverlake, and a café and bakery showcasing her savory prowess in Echo Park. The celebrated Los Angeles chocolatier—and James Beard Finalist cookbook author—embraces a philosophy of telling compelling stories through flavor. Her versatile culinary knack includes handmade chocolates, preserves, historic California cakes, savory delights, and a new frontier involving nationally praised grilled desserts.
FEATURED CHEF BURT BAKMAN
In 2016, Burt Bakman disrupted the Los Angeles culinary scene with Trudy’s Underground Barbecue, the Texas-style BBQ joint running out of his Studio City backyard. Bakman built a reputation from his skill at the smoker and an obsessive Instagram following among LA’s foodies. From backyard to brick-and-mortar, Bakman and the h.wood Group opened SLAB in 2015, which is dedicated to the best quality brisket and ribs but also faithful to the elbow-rubbing charm of Bakman’s backyard barbecue. Bakman brings his show-stopping specialties SLAB, providing his cult following with a go-to spot every day of the week, all while pioneering the future of BBQ in LA.
FEATURED CHEF SHIRLEY CHUNG
A native of Beijing, and a proud Chinese-American, Chef Shirley Chung of Ms. Chi Café brings a playfulness and refinement of flavors to her culinary creations. Shirley immigrated to America at age 17 for college and worked in Silicon Valley before following her passion for food. She attended the California Culinary Academy San Francisco and was trained in classic French, Italian, Latin and Chinese cuisines working with Thomas Keller at Bouchon, Guy Savoy, Mario Batali at Carnevino, and Jose Andres at China Poblano. In 2013, Shirley was a chef contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef Series Season 11 New Orleans where she finished in the Top 3 and was invited to compete again in 2016 on Top Chef Season 14 Charleston where she was awarded as the runner up. In 2021, Chef Shirley served as a judge and mentor on Top Chef Amateurs and a judge on Top Chef Family Style. With her husband Jimmy Lee, Shirley showcases her Chinese heritage through her progressive Chinese American cuisine at Ms Chi Café in Culver City, CA and on Goldbelly.com.
FEATURED CHEF BRICIA LOPEZ
Bricia Lopez is an acclaimed author, chef and creator. She is a partner at Guelaguetza Restaurant, LA’s temple for Oaxacan cuisine. In addition to the restaurant, She and her siblings launched two direct-to-consumer brands – their proprietary bottled cocktail mix, I Love Micheladas™ and Guelaguetza™ mole starters. Bricia also co-hosts Super Mamas Podcast, a top rated parenting podcast and runs moleandmore.com where she shares her love for home cooked recipes. Her cookbook, OAXACA Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico launched Fall 2019 and became an instant Amazon best seller and a 2020 James Beard nominee. She lives in LA with her husband, son and daughter.
PHOTOS FROM PAST BOOTCAMPS














Photography Credit: Sara Range