Charcoal business fires up

From Charleville to Toowoomba

LEANNDA Dierke thought her dream of running a charcoal business had died when she was forced to walk away from her operation in Charleville.

But a chance call from two Toowoomba businessmen revived Ms Dierke’s desire again, and now her new product is appearing in top restaurants.

The Charleville woman, who founded Chef’s Choice Charcoal with Primitivo coowners Albab and Adnun Khan earlier this year, said she started in the charcoal industry after buying an existing operation in her hometown about four years ago.

“It was getting hard to find the Gidgee wood, it was hard to get workers for it and so it was making it harder for me to keep going,” she said, reflecting on the business.

“When I left it I went back to work at the school in Charleville and carried on my life.”

‘‘ ONE RESTAURATEUR TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS THE BEST CHARCOAL HE HAD USED IN 34 YEARS. LEANNA DIERKE

But the Khan brothers, who were prior customers, brought her on board and trialled several new woods to find the product that worked.

Now Ms Dierke’s new lumpwood is being used in shops and homes in Toowoomba and across Queensland.

“One Brisbane restaurateur told me that this was the best charcoal he had used in 34 years,” she said.

“Here we’ve got a wood that blew my mind for its flavour and heat.

“I am passionate about it and I want people to experience the product.”

For more information, search Chef ’s Choice Charcoal on Facebook.

Photo: Tom Gillespie BLACK GOLD: Charleville woman Leannda Dierke has launched Chef's Choice Charcoal in Toowoomba with restaurateurs Adnun and Albab Khan. The product is already in some of the city's eateries.