When Trevor Corcoran bought his first wood-fired oven, he wasn’t planning to become the neighbourhood cook. It started simply enough-a desire to slow things down and share good food with family and friends. But a few pizza nights later, the JA70 Real Brick oven he’d installed in his Sunbury backyard became something much more: a reason to gather.
“There’s just something about it,” he says. “Everyone comes closer when there’s fire involved. People ask questions, they want to help. And the food-well, that speaks for itself.”
That first oven was such a success that when Trevor set up his cabin at a caravan park in Moama, he decided the oven had to come too. He packed it up, took it north, and made it a permanent fixture.
Now, his JA70 is as much a part of the holiday atmosphere as the river breeze or the evening beers. It’s there, over New Year’s Eve, when Trevor cooks up trays of ribs, roasts, and chicken thighs for guests. It’s there when he rolls out dough and feeds a crowd with wood-fired pizzas. And it’s always the centre of conversation.
“I get asked about it all the time,” Trevor says. “It’s like a magnet. People want to see how it works, they want to talk about what you can cook. It beats a barbecue, hands down.”
Back in Sunbury, Trevor updated his pergola and immediately saw the opportunity to make the outdoor kitchen complete. That meant another Jalando oven. This time, he didn’t hesitate.
“It was a no-brainer. The first one had done so well, and I knew what I was getting,” he says.
Once again, he went with the JA70 Real Brick – a favourite among Jalando customers for its solid thermal performance, classic brick styling, and ease of installation.
At home or on the road, the oven makes the same promise: it will hold heat, cook beautifully, and keep the experience alive from afternoon prep to late-night meals.
“You start cooking at four o’clock and you’re still pulling food out of it hours later. Chicken thighs in the skillet, roast pork, slow lamb – whatever you want. It’s all better from that oven.”
Trevor often uses a cast-iron skillet to sear and roast meats directly inside the chamber. He’s built up a repertoire of dishes that work with the heat curve of the oven – crisping, roasting, finishing slowly as the fire subsides. It’s not only impressive; it’s communal. The meals aren’t just cooked for others, they’re cooked with them.
One of the things Trevor is quick to credit is the customer service he received from Jalando.
“Suzanne looked after me so well,” he says. “From the first oven to the second, it was always easy. No pressure, just help. Real help.”
That kind of feedback has become a pattern for Jalando. The Preston-based family business has built a reputation not just on the quality of its ovens but on the relationships it keeps. Many customers return for accessories, advice, and in Trevor’s case, a second oven altogether.
At the caravan park in Moama, Trevor’s setup is now the social anchor of the site.
“It brings everyone together,” he says. “We sit around while it cooks. People bring a bottle, lend a hand, have a chat. You remember those nights.”
And while the oven is a feature in itself, being a clean-lined, real brick centrepiece against black cabinetry, it’s what happens around it that matters most.
“You light the fire and suddenly it’s not just dinner. It’s a reason for people to come together. That’s the real joy in it.”
Trevor doesn’t describe himself as a chef or a host. But in owning a Jalando oven, he’s become both. Not just once, but twice.
Trevor’s story is one of many. Whether it’s a summer night at the river or a casual backyard gathering, the glow of a wood-fired oven has a way of drawing people in. The oven creates the space for connection.
When will your journey begin? Start your outdoor cooking journey today and view Jalando’s range of preassembled pizza ovens.
