There is something beautiful about cooking fireside. I think a lot of Americans have a hard time branching away from traditional BBQ into something a bit deeper. Our ancestors didn’t have electric stovetops and ovens like we do now. Families and cooks thousands of years ago had to understand the science behind fire to cook elaborate and tasty meals. It wasn’t easy, that’s why we have appliances now a day. If you’ve ever gone camping, you probably understand there’s nothing like food cooked at the fire. Now we can up our game by learning with Lennox Hastie – famous chef in Australia.
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Lennox Hastie has created the perfect cookbook for survivalists and chefs alike. The “Finding Fire: Cooking at its most elemental” cookbook provides all the ins and outs of cooking with fire.
Hastie has experimented for many years with what it is like to cook over an open flame. He worked with Victor Arguinzoniz for over 5 years at the globally renowned Etxebarri, in the Basque Mountains, before returning to Australia. He then decided to open the country’s only exclusively wood-fueled restaurant. If you have seen the Netflix show Ugly Delicious with David Chang, then Hastie is probably not unfamiliar to you. Chang praised Hastie and claims that his 200-day aged rib of beef is the best he has ever had.
These are the kinds of accolades I want to receive when cooking my meals for my loved ones. With Lennox Hastie we can create amazing meals by using the world’s oldest cooking tool known to man – fire. This book is incredible technical and very niche. The layout of the book is as follows: Introduction, finding fire, fire in history and culture, firedoor, how to use this book, 5 stages of fire, mastering the basics, building a fire, how to light a fire, all about the wood, and recipes.
I honestly would have never guessed cooking with fire required so much finesse. In order to get the best results, the more we need to understand the tool.
“Finding Fire: Cooking at its most elemental” presents more than 80 recipes that celebrate cooking over the flame. These recipes are divided by food type: seafood, vegetables, meat (including his acclaimed steak), fruit, dairy, wheat and bases. I am looking forward to trying some grilled fruits and seafood!
It is apparent that Hastie’s cookbook is more than rustic. Not only is the style of cooking involved, but many of the recipes are a bit complex. Victor Arguinzoniz’s Michelin star influence is apparent as you flip through and notice the elegant dishes served with some of the highest ingredients. Speaking of looks, the photography throughout is amazing and really makes each dish shine.
For those that want a challenge and to dive into something a bit different, I definitely recommend giving “Finding Fire: Cooking at its most elemental” cookbook a go!
~Kaiti
