Embracing the time-honored tradition of cooking over flame in the River City
When the dogwoods bloom along Monument Avenue and the first shad run up the James River (unless Jess caught them all), Richmond comes alive with the promise of spring.
It's the perfect season to return to one of humanity's oldest cooking methods: the wood fire.
This guide will help you host a sophisticated yet welcoming outdoor gathering centered around the timeless appeal of wood-fired cooking, with practical advice tailored to RVA's unique spring climate and traditions.
COOKING
The cornerstone of a memorable spring gathering in Richmond is mastering the subtle art of cooking over wood. The technique adds unmatched flavor while connecting us to our Virginia heritage.
For serious enthusiasts, consider investing in a quality wood-fired cooking setup. There are open-fire cooking systems that allow (like David Beckham's from Wild Kitchens) for multiple cooking techniques simultaneously, perfect for entertaining in your Windsor Farms garden or Byrd Park backyard.
If space is limited in your Museum District or Church Hill home, a smaller wood-fired grill or even a well-designed fire pit (like one from Burly USA) with cooking attachments offers excellent results.
Wood Selection for Richmond's Spring Cooking:
- Mixed Hardwood: Use wood that is abundant in Virginia 🇺🇸 (oak, hickory, maple, etc.), don't buy bagged chunks imported from Slovakia
Spring Menu Recommendations:
- Start with wood-roasted Rappahannock oysters while guests arrive
- Prepare a whole side of wood-fired Chesapeake Bay rockfish
- Roast spring asparagus and early squash directly in the embers
- Slow-cook a bone-in leg of lamb with fresh mint chimichurri from your garden
- Finish with cast-iron baked cobbler featuring first-of-season Virginia strawberries
Pro Tip: Prepare your wood properly. Split logs to appropriate sizes the day before and keep a variety of sizes handy—smaller pieces for quick heat adjustments, larger splits for sustained cooking. If you don't want to go through the fuss of splitting your own wood, get your wood pre-split and delivered to your door from us.
Start your fire at least 45 minutes before cooking to develop a proper bed of embers.
LOG STORAGE
Proper firewood storage isn't merely practical—it becomes an attractive feature of your outdoor space when done thoughtfully. Think... wood display above the kitchen at Bar West.
Essential Firewood Management for Richmond Homes:
- Invest in a quality log rack (like The Woodhaven) that elevates wood off the potentially damp spring ground
- Position your rack in a convenient but visually pleasing location—consider it part of your garden design
- A covered rack is ideal for Richmond's unpredictable spring showers. The Woodhaven cover allows your wood to breath while staying dry.
- Keep a small pile near the cooking area so you don't have to walk to the rack every time you need another log.
Spring Consideration: In Richmond's spring, humidity fluctuates significantly. Make sure your wood is super dry before cooking with it otherwise you get a lot of nasty "yuckity yuck" (which is an official scientific term) in the smoke because it isn't able to combust all the way if your logs have too much moisture. Use kiln-dried wood to be safe.
DRINKS
While cooking over wood, offer beverages that complement both the season and the smoky ambiance.
Spring Fire-Side Cocktail: Virginia Smoked Old Fashioned
- 2 oz Virginia Highland Whisky (distilled in Lovingston)
- ¼ oz maple syrup
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Orange peel, smoked briefly over your cooking fire
- Hardwood oak chip for smoking the glass
Chill an old-fashioned glass, then invert it over a hardwood oak wood chip (that you can pull right off an oak log) for 30 seconds.
Combine whisky, maple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice, stir thoroughly, and strain into the smoked glass.
Twist orange peel over drink and garnish. I like to rim the glass with the oils from the peel before dropping it in.
Makes you feel like a legit bartender and adds a nice little flare to your cocktail mixing presentation.... trust me, your friends are watching that stuff.
Serving Tips:
- Set up your beverage station upwind from your cooking fire
- Offer a selection of Virginia wines that pair well with wood-fired foods—Barboursville Vineyards' Cabernet Franc complements smoky flavors beautifully (and it's a personal fav of mine)
- Serve Hardywood's Richmond Lager or Triple Crossing Falcon Smash for local beer options (plus, both of those breweries are fans of LLAMAWOOD 😊)
- Keep a pitcher of mint-infused water available (using mint from your garden) for refreshment and hydration
SEATING
Arrange your gathering space to make the wood fire both functional for cooking and a focal point for conversation.
Seating Arrangements:
- Create a semicircle of comfortable seating facing the cooking area
- Ensure chairs are sturdy with proper back support
- Position seating at a comfortable distance from the fire—close enough for warmth on cooler spring evenings but not overwhelming
- Include side tables for drinks and small plates
Log Storage as Decor:
- Use an attractive log rack as part of your outdoor design scheme
- Stack wood in an organized pattern that becomes an aesthetic element
- Consider a copper or aged-iron log hoop as a design feature
- Position kindling in attractive baskets for both function and visual appeal
WEATHER
Richmond's spring weather is notoriously changeable, requiring thoughtful planning.
- Have a pop-up canopy ready to protect your cooking area from sudden showers
- Consider using a chiminea or partially covered fire pit design that functions even during light rain
- Position your wood-cooking setup where prevailing southwest winds won't blow smoke toward your guests
- Have light blankets available for the sometimes chilly spring evenings
- Monitor pollen forecasts—position your gathering away from heavy pollen-producing trees if possible
MUSIC
This one is really up to your preferences but some stations that we love to throw on while hosting are Railroad Earth (bluegrass), Entertaining Playlists (on Spotify or Apple Music), or French Jazz (for fancier occasions).
LIGHTING
If you've got string lights, go ahead and throw them up around the seating area. Old Christmas lights will do too. Also, if you want to take the fire element even further, light a few candles on side tables for an even cozier vibe.
CHECKLIST
One Week Before:
- Order or gather firewood, ensuring you have varied sizes and types
- Begin bringing wood to a covered area to ensure it's dry
- Plan menu and source ingredients from local providers like Belmont Butchery or Ellwood Thompson's
- Check long-range weather forecast
Three Days Before:
- Stack your display firewood in attractive racks
- Clean and organize your outdoor cooking equipment
- Prepare any rubs or marinades
- Split kindling and smaller pieces for fire management
One Day Before:
- Build a test fire to ensure wood is properly seasoned
- Prepare side dishes that can be served at room temperature
- Set up seating areas and prepare your log storage displays
- Create an attractive kindling station with newspaper, fatwood starters, and matches
Morning of the Gathering:
- Begin arranging your cooking logs to continue drying
- Set up beverage station and prepare cocktail ingredients
- Position fire tools attractively nearby
- Start your main fire at least 45 minutes before cooking time
One Hour Before:
- Welcome guests with a brief demonstration of your wood-fire cooking techniques
- Assign an interested guest to be your "fire keeper" if you need assistance
- Serve initial appetizers cooked quickly over the open flame
FINAL THOUGHTS
There is something incredibly satisfying about cooking over fire with friends. It’s more than just making a meal—it’s a ritual, a return to something ancient and essential. When you gather around the flames, you’re paying tribute to traditions that are far older than our beloved city, older than memory itself. You’re connecting with a primal instinct that lives deep inside all of us—an instinct to gather, to nourish, to share stories under the open sky.
