Mel Chmilar Jr.
Mel Chmilar Jr. is the Alberta pitmaster behind Darkside of the Grill, sharing barbecue recipes, teaching live fire cooking and hosting events around the world.
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Latest
Mel’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Edmonton
Melinda’s FoodsOverview
- Known as
- Darkside of the Grill
- Based in
- Alberta, Canada
- Work
- Pitmaster, cooking instructor, caterer and event host
- Before barbecue
- Journeyman welder
- Education
- NAIT, Welder ’03
Mini bio
How it started.
Before Darkside of the Grill, Mel was a journeyman welder cooking for staff lunches and safety meetings. A coworker’s success posting pictures of his food encouraged him to start his own Instagram account. In his AFPA interview, he recalled reaching more than 4,000 followers within a few months.
Turning cooking into a career.
Dalstrong was the first brand to approach him, offering knives for an Instagram giveaway after he had bought and posted about its products. His work now spans recipes, catering, classes and international barbecue events, and he is part of Big Green Egg’s Pro Cook Team.
What fans can find.
Mel’s Darkside range includes rubs and seasonings, alongside a Shiitake Szechuan hot sauce collaboration with Heartbeat. He also brings live fire cooking to festival audiences and helped build Edmonton’s Smoke in the Valley festival.
Creditschronological, newest first
Recipes and interviews
- 2026Epic Jalapeno Ranch Parmesan WingsRecipe creator for Melinda’s Foods
- 2025This Week In Barbecue: Fire, Family & The CraftInterview guest
- 2025Reluctantly: Smoke in the Valley YEGInterview guest
- 2022Fresh Take: Summer skirt steak tacosRecipe contributor alongside butcher Corey Meyer
Live events
- 2025Smoke in the ValleyOrganizer and host
- 2025Gundo Comedy & BBQ FestivalMasterclass instructor
Awards
Quotes
It all started with making pickles in the kitchen with my BabaMel Chmilar Jr., AFPA in ACTION, Winter 2022–23
Mel recalled the family kitchen while explaining how he began cooking.
Trivia
- He is a lifelong Star Wars fan.
- His signature call at the fire is “Fire In The Hole!”
- NAIT identifies him as a 2003 welding graduate.
Find Mel
Follow Mel for recipes, live fire cooks and his next barbecue stop.
Are you Mel Chmilar Jr.?
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