The exhortations in our junk mail and on our televisions have reached fever pitch -- buy this stainless steel juggernaut with four burners, six ovens and a fish wok, and feel what it's like to commune with nature or at least the back yard...

Barbecue season is here once more.

Mark Thomson has seen it all. He's been a photographer, newspaper editor, graphic designer and he's the author of Meat, Metal and Fire along with Blokes & Barbies.

We discuss nomenclature, history, techniques and raw materials.