-Waitlist Access-

Next Class: April 18th, 2026
What You'll Learn

Practical, Real World Barbecue

  • Students will learn the fundamental frameworks of Offset & Direct Heat wood-fired barbecue in an end-to-end real time cooking experience. Practical skills are taught to fit into various lifestyles & cooking journeys.

  • The class is designed to cater to a wide range of skill level, equipment and budgets in order to fit into day to day backyard barbecue

Bases and Specifics Covered

Topics Include:

  • Why offset & direct heat barbecue are different and how to use each method

  • Distinguishing types of charcoal/wood

  • Simple butchery and seasoning

  • Learning broad, principle based skills to duplicate on their own equipment

  • How to utilize cooked leftovers & trim byproduct

  • Wrapping, resting and slicing

Student Led. Student Focused

  • A completely hands on class where students will:

    - Do their own butchery

    -Learn how to and will run offset & direct heat barbecue pits

    -Cook/eat their own foods at the end of the day

  • Small class sizes are intentional by design. Time is allocated for 1-on-1 attention to students by walking them through each step of the process throughout the day.

What's all Included:

  • A variety of Offset & Direct Heat Style Barbecue Pits To Utilize

  • Equipment Allocated For Each Student: Stainless Steel Tables, Cutting Boards & Knives & Gloves

  • All Meats For Butchery & Cooking

  • Lunch & Dinner. Students eat what they cook along with other One Oak Barbecue

  • Coffee & Water

Students Take Home:

  • Individual Leftovers From Student Cooks & Dinner

  • Leftover Trim From Butchery With Guides On How To Use It

  • PDF Recipe Guidelines For All Food Items Used In Class

  • Specific Gear Guide For All Class Equipment

  • One Oak Barbecue Shirt

Meet Your Instructor

Stephen Christopher

-Trained and worked with renowned barbecue chefs/figures including Evan LeRoy of Leroy & Lewis, Matt Register of Southern Smoke BBQ & Will Andrews of Rolling Bones Barbecue. 

-Executed Pop-Ups In Charleston throughout 2024 & 2025 at locations including Hobcaw Brewing, Odyssey Bottle Shop & others. 

-Involved in acclaimed events such as Charleston Food & Wine, Holy Smokes Barbecue Festival, Lockhart Rising, Appalachian Trail Days, The Marcus King Family Reunion & More.

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Enroll Below

Foundations Of Offset & Direct Heat Barbecue Class Foundations Of Offset & Direct Heat Barbecue Class
Foundations Of Offset & Direct Heat Barbecue Class
$350.00 
Your Questions, Answered

  • -The foundations class will take place at One Oak Barbecue Headquarters in West Ashley, Charleston, SC. The address, parking information and other details will be provided via email after purchase. 

  • -Yes. The class is entirely outside and taught in a backyard setting.

  • -Students will cook on equipment ranging from commodity brand bbq pits to a 500 gallon offset smoker.

  • Students will trim and cook their own pork spare ribs and whole chickens. This isn’t a specific “Chicken” or “Ribs” class. This class focuses on learning Offset & Direct Heat barbecue. Both proteins will both be cooked on each type of smoker. Basic butchery, seasoning and cooking methods for ribs & chicken will both be taught as an overall part of the learning cooking principles.

  • -The foundations class is for anybody of any skill level. From beginners looking to start in wood fired barbecue or the person looking to explore/dial in direct heat or offset cooking methods. 

  • -Yes. Initial instructor demonstrations of butchery, seasoning, fire management, etc., are shown to students, who will then do the cooking themselves with 1-on-1 guidance.

  • -The class is based around breaking down and cooking whole chickens and pork spare ribs in both direct heat & offset styles of cooking

  • Yep! Students will be provided lunch. Dinner is a family style barbecue tray including a few One Oak Barbecue favorites, as well as the proteins students cook.

  • The class will be held rain or shine, with available rain covers if necessary. 

  • -The tentative timeline is approximately 8 hours start to finish 

  • -Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather and clothing you do not mind being exposed to the inherent characteristics of live fire barbecue. Closed toed shoes are highly recommended. 

  • -No. Given the utilization of live fire elements, children accompanied by adults are not allowed during this class. 

  • -We will be using all charcoal/wood fired barbecue pits. Certain fundaments skills taught within this class could translate over to be utilized on pellet smokers, but none will be used or demonstrated during this class.

  • That is most likely happening. Soon. Stay tuned for focused class drops!