Australian barbecues can be a simple as a wire rack suspended between 2 rocks, or it can be a sophisticated arrangement involving large stainless steel contraptions that sit on balconies and are seldom used. When they are used they require hours of cleaning, which is why they sit idle quite a lot.
A Finnish barbecue puts any Australian barbecue to shame. Just take a look at the purpose built barbecue hut in my cousin’s back yard. Her very clever husband Mikko built it for the family. It is by no means one of a kind. I saw several of these in backyards in Kouvola.
Summers are short in Finland, so an indoor barbecue makes sense. I can report that it is very cosy sitting around the central fire watching your food cooking.
We visited Heli’s sister and her clever husband had just smoked a side of salmon in their barbecue hut. It was the best smoked salmon I have ever tasted. I wonder if I could get Jim to build one in our courtyard in Brisbane.