Alf Leckie had a vision. His three-car garage in Toolern Vale, Victoria, was about to become something much more than a storage space. With the help of his brothers, both builders, he set out to create an entertainment hub, a place where family, friends, and club mates could come together. At the heart of it all would be a Jalando JA 70 Crema pizza oven.
This wasn’t just about adding a pizza oven to the backyard. Alf took a hands-on approach, constructing a custom steel frame and concrete bench to house the oven. A triple-skin flue kit was installed, allowing the oven to vent through the garage roof, ensuring it could be fired up in any season, rain or shine. To add even more functionality, he designed a hinged shelf—a work-in-progress addition that will make cooking and serving even more seamless.
Before getting his hands on a wood-fired oven, Alf’s pizzas were made the way many home cooks approach them—on a pizza stone in a conventional oven. He knew switching to wood fire would be a step up, but he didn’t expect the complete transformation in flavour and texture.
“Cooking in my Jalando wood-fired oven is so much better,” Alf says.
Though new to wood-fired cooking, he quickly embraced the process. In just three uses, he had already roasted pork, made pizzas, and hosted a club night. The oven wasn’t just a piece of equipment; it was a catalyst for connection.
Monday nights have always been special for The Headchoppers, a club Alf has been part of for years. Originally formed in 1985 as an indoor cricket team, the group evolved into something more—a tight-knit circle of mates who meet weekly for a shared meal and camaraderie.
The gatherings usually involve barbecues or pie nights, but Alf decided to introduce something new. With the freshly installed Jalando oven ready to go, he invited 13 club members over for a pizza night in his newly revamped garage.
He fired up the oven and rolled out 15 pizzas, featuring a mix of flavours:
The verdict? A resounding success. So much so that another local club—the darts team—nominated Alf’s place for their next event. What started as a DIY project had already begun to shape a larger community experience.
Alf’s journey reflects a broader trend in Australia—the rise of wood-fired entertaining. More and more people are turning their homes into gathering spaces where cooking over fire becomes the centrepiece.
There’s something special about the ritual of wood-fired cooking—stacking the firewood, waiting for the oven to reach the perfect temperature, and watching the flames lick the edges of a bubbling pizza. It’s an experience that modern gas and electric ovens simply can’t replicate.
Beyond just pizza, wood-fired ovens offer incredible versatility. Alf is already planning his next experiment—nachos baked in the high heat of the wood-fired oven. The possibilities stretch far beyond pizza, from roasted meats to slow-cooked vegetables and fresh-baked bread.
Choosing the right oven made all the difference for Alf. As someone new to wood-fired cooking, he needed something that was high-quality, durable, and easy to use. The JA 70 Crema fit the bill perfectly.
For Alf, the oven was more than just a cooking tool—it was the cornerstone of a space that brings people together.
From a garage renovation to a thriving social hub, Alf’s project is a testament to the power of food to bring people together. His Headchoppers club nights have taken on a new flavour, and his space is quickly becoming a go-to destination for friends and local clubs.
Reflecting on his journey, Alf acknowledges the role Jalando played in making his vision a reality.
“I wanted something that wasn’t just for cooking, but for bringing people together. My Jalando oven has done exactly that. It’s turned my garage into a place where everyone wants to be,” he says.
As he continues to experiment with new recipes and host more gatherings, one thing is clear: the fire has only just been lit.
