Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Grilled Chicken with Peach BBQ sauce

Ingredients

1 whole chicken (2 1/2-3 pounds), cut into 8 pieces

1 cup No-Stick Grilling Marinade for Poultry

1 Tbl poultry seasoning

2 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Peach BBQ Sauce

2 tsp bacon fat (or canola oil)

1/4 cup onion, small dice

2 tsp garlic, minced

1 tsp ginger, minced

2 tsp jalapeno, small dice

1 1/2 cup fresh peach, peeled diced ( frozen may be substituted)

2 tsp tomato paste

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup  ketchup

1/3 cup chicken stock or broth

1/4 cup orange juice

2 TBL rice wine vinegar

2 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp Worcestershire

1/2  cinnamon stick

1/8 tsp coriander

1/8 tsp cumin

1/8 tsp chili powder

1 tsp kosher

1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground

1/4 tsp dry thyme, or 1 tsp fresh chopped thyme

Instructions

Brush the skin of the chicken pieces and marinate at room temperature one hour. Sprinkle the chicken with the poultry seasoning and black pepper.

Prepare the grill. Cook chicken leg and thigh pieces over direct medium heat. Cook 5-6 minutes. Add the breast and wing pieces to the grill, skin side down and cook all chicken 6-7 more minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook 7-9 minutes more. It is important to keep the lid closed to prevent the fire from flaring up and charring the skin.

Brush the chicken with the barbecue sauce twice during the last 8 minutes of cooking and serve the remaining barbecue sauce on the side.

Yield: 4-6 servings

Peach BBQ Sauce

Preheat oven to 300.

In a 2-quart oven-proof sauce pot, heat the bacon fat over low heat. Cook onions 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic, ginger, jalapeno and peaches. Increase the heat to medium and cook 10 minutes, stirring often. Add the tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes more. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover the sauce and place in the preheated oven.

Bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cover and bake for 30 more minutes.

The sauce may be made days in advance, and best when a day or two old.

Yield: 2 1/2 cups

Recent Recipes

Harrison’s Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Having a son who’s following in your footsteps is one thing. Watching him take what you’ve taught him and elevate it to something even better—that’s special. During his Christmas break from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, a few years ago, he nudged me out of the way and made these mashed potatoes. I was skeptical, of course as I’ve been making mashed potatoes for decades. But there was no question his version was better. There’s a lot of pride in seeing him excel in the kitchen, making something as simple as mashed potatoes taste extraordinary. This recipe has become a new tradition in our family. Watching him cook now, with all that skill and precision, is a proud moment for me every time. This is his recipe, and I’ve adopted it as my own.

Read more

Macaroni and Cheese

Growing up, elaborate mac & cheese wasn’t something that made its way to our dinner table. That’s not some sort of elitist statement. We grew up in a very modest way. It’s just that macaroni and cheese was something my mom never purchased at the store and therefore never served. This recipe is rich and indulgent with a blend of cheeses that create a creamy, savory masterpiece. Adding crispy fried shallots or crumbled bacon to the breadcrumb topping gives it a savory, satisfying crunch. The blend of cheeses—Velveeta for creaminess, Gruyere for nuttiness, Cheddar for sharpness, and Colby Jack for that buttery melt—makes all the difference.

Read more

Robert’s Christmas Turkey 2025

There's nothing like a well-roasted turkey to anchor a holiday table, and no one made it quite like my grandmother. She didn't wait until Thanksgiving to serve it. She'd roast a turkey once a month throughout the year, never mind the occasion. It was a staple at her table. My mother, on the other hand, always made a formal Christmas Eve dinner, complete with turkey, dressing, and gravy. As kids, the excitement of Christmas Eve was almost too much to bear. Those big dinners felt like the beginning of Christmas itself. It’s a memory that comes to mind every time I cook a turkey or make gravy. And a good gravy can make or break the meal. Making sure the roux browns just right and finishing the gravy with a touch of lemon juice or fresh herbs are tricks worth remembering. A little extra attention to the gravy goes a long way.

Read more