“We turned adversity into opportunity”
LEARNING TO COOK OUT IN NATURE
Josef Minoli, 38, Flamin’ Joe’s BBQ, Caerphilly
After lockdowns all but shut down their real estate legal and enforcement business, Joe and his solicitor wife Lauren went back to nature.
During the first lockdown, Joe took the couple’s five children (Tyler, 15; Lucio, seven; Elena, five; Giovanna, three; Floria, one) for daily walks in the woods near their home. “I began barbecuing outdoors with them, and Lucio, who is autistic, was particularly soothed being in nature.”
Joe’s daily barbecues progressed to cooking extra for friends and family. And, after posting pictures of his recipes online, he began getting paid orders.
“I hired space on a farm, sourced high-quality ingredients from small businesses within the community, and used a pre-order model. I was sold out that first weekend and have been ever since. It was transformative.
“There was a chap who’d lost his son, families with autistic
