Amy Winehouse agreed to perform a private show in return for a barbecue.
The Tears Dry on Their Own singer invited friends to her North London home for a party - but despite stocking up on hamburgers and sausages, she was worried about how to cook them.
Amy struck a deal with her neighbour, who agreed to man the grill for the evening if the 25-year-old star will sing for his friends in the future.
A pal told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Amy is a good cook but struggles with the barbecue. She didn't want to burn herself or the food. In the end her neighbour agreed to help in return for a private concert one day."
Meanwhile, Amy's father, Mitch Winehouse, has blasted her estranged husband, Blake Fielder-Civil.
Mitch claims Blake - who was granted a decree nisi in a divorce hearing two weeks ago - is a "liar" and triggered Amy's spiral into drug abuse.
He told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "They were together for four months and then he went to prison. He also admitted he got her on to drugs.
"He hasn't asked us yet for money, but when the divorce does go to court, we';re not going to give him anything.
"How can he expect any money? He's a convicted liar, a convicted violent criminal, but there he is trying to convince people that butter wouldn't melt in his mouth."
Mitch also revealed Amy took an extended break to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia last December to get away from Blake.
Mitch added: "He was just phoning and winding her up from prison. He would make her life hell.
"This went on for a considerable amount of time until she said she couldn't speak to him anymore."