Chefs We Love
Flock Owner Cory Vitiello Shares His Best BBQ Recipes
Updated on January 8, 2024
Cory Vitiello has made a career from knowing what everyone wants to eat before they do. In 2015, he leaned in to his lifelong obsession with chicken to launch Flock Rotisserie + Greens, a casual chef-driven restaurant before that was a thing (there are now seven locations). Here, he shares his advice for mastering the art (and fun) of barbecuing. “Remember that trying to do everything at once is challenging for even the most experienced barbecuer. It’s really about setting up your menu, envisioning the flow of what happens when, and giving everything different blocks of time on the grill.”
Scroll down for his best barbecue recipes for feeding a crowd!
“We barbecue a lot in the summer because it’s such a social thing to do with friends. I love cooking with charcoal versus gas because it’s a more drawn-out process. You’ve got to get your coals ready, be patient and plan ahead,” says Cory (pictured). “Mine is the Broil King Keg, and I get excellent results on it. The Big Green Egg is a beautiful barbecue, but it’s also three times the cost.”
Keep scrolling for Cory’s classic BBQ chicken recipe!
Whole Spatchcocked Chicken with Flock Spice Rub
“This technique is a lot easier than people think. Just flip the chicken onto its back, cut out the backbone so it naturally opens up and press to flatten. Then rub with our signature Flock seasoning, which is delicious but simple to make.”
Get the recipe here.
Whole Sweet Potatoes with Pasilla Chili Oil and Cotija Cheese
“This dish was inspired by visits to Quetzal restaurant in Toronto; one of its dishes involves cooking a sweet potato in charcoal for a black-crusted finish. In my version, you bake the potatoes in foil, finish directly on the grill, then add the toppings.”
Get the recipe here.
“How do you feed a big crowd with a small grill? Well, this menu is designed for exactly that,” says Cory. “I advocate for getting as much preparation done in the day or so before, both because I love the feeling of having everything laid out in front of me, but also so you can socialize on the day.”
Baby Eggplant, Halloumi and Shishito Peppers
“You want that deeply charred, smoky exterior, and eggplant really stands up on the grill. It’s a great vehicle for robust flavours — in this case, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern — and it’s very hard to mess up. The molten interior is the perfect texture for soaking everything up.”
Get the recipe here.
Pomegranate-glazed Miami-cut Short Ribs
“The key with these ribs is to get them nice and thick — up to a half-inch thick — not those paper-thin ones you’ll see at markets. They keep their integrity and chewiness and have a wonderfully unctuous, beefy flavour. They’re great for grilling because, after marinating, they just need a quick side-side and you’ve got a beautiful platter of blistered, charred meat.”
Get the recipe here.
Fresh Corn and Peach Skillet Cake
“Corn and peaches are my favorite summer flavor combination, whether it’s in a salad or a dessert. With the fresh cream and mint, it’s the taste of summer, conjuring up bright and sunny images. It’s just what you want to be eating in the summer.”
Get the recipe here.
Cory’s son Barlow (pictured) likes to help with meal prep. “The more you introduce kids to the full scope of cooking, from shopping to prepping, or even just holding vegetables, the more likely they are to eat their dinner,” says Cory.
Keep scrolling for a look inside Cory’s home!
Architect Ginger Sorbara designed the couple’s home. She kept the bones of the late-1800s coach house but renovated the interior from the ground up, adding a chef’s kitchen that’s the focal point of the main floor and opening up the living spaces. The window and door cutouts were originally used to bring in horses.
The kitchen has a classic black and white palette, with marble counters that continue up the backsplash, a warm brass faucet and an oversized island.
When she’s not making music, Cory’s wife, singer-songwriter Martina Sorbara makes art, like this ceramic wall hanging opposite the kitchen. Many of the art pieces in their home are her work.
Maya Visnyei
Food Styling David Grenier
Prop Styling Stacey Smithers