Auckland New Zealand Brethren in New Jersey

A couple years ago BBQ-Brethren Longwayfromhome flew to the states for a family visit. We tried to make plans to meet at that time, but our schedules just didn't allow our free time to interlock. Sadly we were unable to connect and all we could hope for, were better circumstances at another future point in time.


Over the years we enjoyed each others posts and at times, we kept a casual conversation in threads to keep the common bond of BBQ as a grounding point.

Fast forward in time: Longwayfromhome came to visit family this year, we had made plans to have lunch, but family gatherings had a small change in plans and our lunch together was put on hold.

We rescheduled for lunch today, and everything seemed to be in the works. We made plans to meet at my friends home so I could show BBQ-Brethren "Longwayfromhome" my friends Behemoth commercial trailer with two "Ole Hickory" smokers, walk-in refer box, and a set of tandem Blodgett holding ovens.

I left for a doctor's appointment at 7:00 AM and I was out of the communications loop due to the fact that I don't load applications on my phone, except what is needed to connect with our security communications equipment for work. No e-mail, no social media, and no messenger. All I could hope, is that everything would go according to our plans.

I completed my physicians visit and I then had to run to the supply house to pick a couple special order parts to complete a job next week. I glanced at the time and it was already 10:30 and our meeting was scheduled for 11:00. I scooted over to my friends home, just moments before our New Zealand BBQ-Brethren arrived.


I finally had that moment in time that presented the opportunity to meet "Longwayfromhome" and his brother-in-law. They checked out the equipment, took a couple of pictures, and then we headed out for conversation to strengthen NZ / US goodwill BBQ relations.

We headed to Whole Hog Cafe in Medford, NJ as our rendezvous point for some conversation over a BBQ lunch. We ordered the "ultimate platter" and the food was really good. But more importantly; Today I made two new friends. I hope that at some point, fate will allow our paths to once again intersect with each other.

Longwayfromhome (Black Sheep BBQ)


I look forward to seeing Ralph and Terry again and continuing our wonderful conversations. I feel blessed to have met two wonderful people whom I consider to be my new friends. They even brought some candy from New Zealand for my wife and I. Thank You so much for the great conversation over lunch.


A big thanks to Phil for providing this forum where people with the common thread of BBQ can connect with one-another and create a lasting bond.


I believe Ralph and Terry were impressed with the set-up below that I took them to see.

Front of Cookers / Trailer




Service Side (Rear) of Cookers / Trailer

I really enjoyed our conversations with Ralph and Terry. I was mesmerized by a story told by Ralph from his Father Reguarding World War II. Ralph had told me that the narrow channel between Australia's Cape York (Queensland) and New Guinea was not navigable by ships due to the shallow reefs that would tear a ship's hull apart like tinfoil. Ralph explained how his father told him about a channel that was cut through the reef to allow an American Aircraft Carrier to pass through the shallow reef to launch Doolittle's raid over Tokyo.

For those who do not know about this mission; I will take a moment to expound. The US had no allies or had any occupied territories to launch a bombing campaign from that could reach Japan. Thus, the first use of an aircraft carrier to launch a large bomber aircraft from was envisioned. Being this area was known to the Japanese to be impossible to navigate, so they concentrated their patrols further South and further West of this area. The channel, cut in secrecy, allowed a specially modified American Aircraft Carrier to pass through the strait. The Aircraft Carrier was specially modified to launch North American B-25 Mitchell Bombers for a surprise attack on Toyko, Japan. (This was the basis for the film, "30 Seconds over Tokyo"). This was America's first retaliatory air strike against Japan, just four months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The pilots and crew members, known as Doolittle's Raiders, took this bombing mission knowing they would not be able to safely return in their aircraft. They were instructed to try and make the coast of China, without running out of fuel, where American patrols would look for them and rescue them. The bombing raid over Tokyo killed about 50 people and injured 400. Fifteen aircraft crashed, while the sixteenth successfully landed at Vladivostok in the Soviet Union. Of the total 80 crew members in the raid, 77 survived the mission, and three perished in these crash landings.

But the sixteenth plane that successfully landed in the Soviet Union, was seized by the Russian Military and the crew was held captive. They remained in Russia for almost a year until they were able to successfully escape through the area that is known as Iran today. Although the US Military contends that Lt Col. Jimmy Doolittle specifically had told the Raiders not to fly to Russia. Nolan Herndon was the navigator, bombardier, and gunner on that plane. To this day, Herndon believes that unbeknownst to him at the time, the plane was on a secret mission to test the Soviet Union's resolve as an ally. He says that pilot Edward York, and co-pilot Bob Emmens were under top secret orders that died with the two men after the war. Herndon says that the character of these two officers would never allow them to disobey an order in any manner, even if it meant self preservation. Although the Soviets contended that the crew was not held captive and they were free to go, they became known as "Guests of the Kremlin" after their successful escape.

The cutting of this channel was the anchor for a turning point in the war where Japan realized they were now vulnerable. This was truly one of the turning points in the conflict. From this successful mission came future campaigns which showed Japan that thew were now vulnerable in the war that they had declared.

Sorry to elaborate, but often we don't realize the commitment of our allies and the amount of effort they put forward to our cause and resolve. I'm honored to have met these two fine Gentlemen and I wish to thank Ralph for his Father's actions and service to support the United States Military effort. Ralph told me that the New Zealand Military Forces have supported the US in all conflicts in the pacific. They have the most military members per capita in our engagements, and consequently they also have the highest casualties per capita of all of the involved allied forces.

After our conversations Ralph presented my wife and I with some delightful culinary confections from his homeland; milk chocolate with kiwi fruit and milk chocolate with Manuka Honey Creme. We will indulge in these wonderful candies tonight, thank you for your kindness.


I also forgot to mention that after lunch was over, we walked out the door to Rita's (next door) to indulge in that delightfully creamy frozen French Custard, dolloped with fruity Italian Water Ice that lusciously melts in your mouth.



A perfect ending to a wonderful meeting as ambassadors of international BBQ between New Zealand and the United States. I have really enjoyed the many BBQ-Brethren international brotherhood I have been able to meet and converse with, it creates a common passion that we can all build upon to further the culinary delights throughout the world.

SmokinAussie said:

Nice story all round fellas!

It is fairly easy to get Kiwi's and Aussie's mixed up a bit if you're American. We tend to stick together when we are found overseas "on campaign"

General consensus however is that Kiwi's are slightly crazier than Aussies.

Click to expand...

:razz: LOL.....