Meet Tim Hollingsworth

For most, the pandemic caused our daily routines come to a screeching halt. One minute you could walk in and out of the grocery store without fear, and the next, you were either waiting in long lines to enter or were fighting over rolls of toilet paper. Having this sudden halt in our daily lives forced us to look in the mirror and re-examine what is or isn't essential. Today, we have less purposeless interactions in our lives and have become more deliberate about staying in touch, spending quality time with those who matter, and support the community around us.

For Chef Tim Hollingsworth, this is the case. As Tim reflects on the last year and a half, he says, "A lot of the time was spent around the dinner table and focusing on building a better homestead in our urban environment. Building a new chicken coop, and growing more fruits and vegetables in our raised garden beds so that our children can really learn where their food comes from and gain more respect for food." Accomplishments aside, Tim was reminded about the importance of taking time with his family. As he says, "I definitely feel more strongly that we should not take the time we have with the people we love for granted, and that we should make or find the time to create memories - which is always better around food."

Watching Tim glide from kitchen to table to garden to BBQ and back again, you could tune into this rhythm and dance of juggling lots of things all at once. However, there wasn’t this sense that he was stressed, but more so allowing the orchestra of it all to come together. He had time to practice this with the chaos of family, large dogs, and all during the lockdown, but there was this appreciation of the little moments that made us all look and reflect on how we did the same.

Tim Hollingsworth Unique BBQ Expression

When it comes to his perception of BBQ, Tim means it when he says BBQ is about family. In his own words, "Growing up, BBQ was a time we all got together to celebrate or reunite. As a child, I remember getting excited when we would attend or host an outdoor BBQ because that meant we were going to have a lot of fun playing outside - riding dirt bikes, throwing a football, or swimming in a nearby lake." Not only do his nostalgic memories of BBQ bring back happy memories of spending time with family but so do his present-day feelings towards BBQ. Tim explains, "BBQ from when I was young to the present day is always a time to get the family together. My wife, Coco, and I both come from large families, so if we head up to Placerville, California, we are planning a day to BBQ with the entire family. When we are in Los Angeles, and there is a birthday to celebrate, my wife's family might host a Lebanese or Armenian-style BBQ."

Tim Hollingsworth & Reconnecting

After his delicious food was devoured by guests, our host and chef Tim Hollingsworth, while reflecting on the importance of being together again, had his daughter popped up onto his lap. Giggling, smiling and holding each other close, there was a moment of pure delight between them that perfectly encapsulated Tim's perception of BBQ. From his recipes to his childhood memories, Tim's understanding of BBQs is family-focused. In his own words, "Growing up, BBQ was a time we all got together to celebrate or reunite." For Tim, perhaps his perception of BBQ was shaped even more by the lessons he learned during the pandemic, as he says, “The silver lining from the pandemic was being able to spend more time with my wife and kids. Pre-pandemic, life was very fast paced and we would rarely get the opportunity to slow down time and really embrace what we have; from our home to our kids.”

Tim Hollingsworth’s BBQ Drinks & Eats

In addition to the memories BBQ evokes for him, Tim's recipes at our OLIPOP BBQ were all familial. He paid tribute to his Texas origins with Frito pie and a brisket-filled family backyard BBQ at his beautiful home in the hills overlooking LA. As he explained, "When creating the OLIPOP BBQ menu, the inspiration came from my childhood and Tex-Mex roots. I grew up eating Frito Pie, Cherry Cheesecake, Shells, and Cheese, Brisket when I was young, and now I can pass down those memories and nostalgia to my family today."

Getting hungry and or wishing you grew up in Tim’s delicious food eating family? It’s not too late!

Tim shared his BBQ recipes with us here:

• Texas-Style Brisket
• Cherry Cheesecake