Blog and website for William Rubel, author and cook specializing in traditional cuisines

I am the author of The Magic of Fire, a major book on hearth cooking. My book is clearly written and beautifully illustrated. It includes everything you need to know to cook modern or historic recipes on your fireplace or on a campfire. You can think of my book as a portable hearth cooking class. I offer hearth cooking classes by appointment for individuals or groups. You may e-mail me for more information.

Hearth Classes in England

Cumbria, England: Ivan Day

Ivan Day, one of the worlds leading culinary historians, offers an extraordinary series of classes on roasting, baking, confectionery, and more. The world expert on whole swaths of historic cooking technique, a great speaker, and a patient teacher, if you live in England, then you have no excuse for not registering for one of his classes. If you don’t live in England, then work one of his classes into your vacation schedule. Classes are usually booked about one year in advance. Ivan’s informative web site includes a class schedule.

Hearth Classes in the US

California, Santa Cruz: William Rubel

I offer hearth cooking classes by appointment at my home in Santa Cruz, California.

Connecticut, Monroe: Monroe Historical Society

They do not have a regular program of hearth classes but will offer classes if there is sufficient demand.

Connecticut, Woodstock: Elias Child House Bed & Breakfast

18th century hearth cooking demonstrations are offered in the context of a Bed and Breakfast Inn.

Connecticut, Stonington : Another Second Penny Inn

Hearth cooking classes are offered in the context of the inn experience during months with cool weather.

Connecticut, Guilford: The Thomas Griswold House Museum

They do not have a regular program of hearth cooking clases, but do sometimes offer workshops, so check their calendar.

Louisianna, New Orleans: Hermann-Grima House

Hearth cooking classes offered in an outdoor ktichen.

Massachusetts, Deerfield: Historic Deerfield

Hearth cooking classes are taught at least several times a year.

Massachusetts, Plimoth: Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth has one of the most extraordinary foodways programs of any historic reenactment program anywhere. Hearth cooking is demonstrated all day everyday that Plimoth Plantation is open. Classes are sometimes offered. See my photographs of Plimoth Plantation hearths.

Massachusetts, Sturbridge: Old Sturbridge Village

Another fantastic foodways program , this one for the early nineteenth century. Hearth cooking is demonstratred every day. Check the schedule for classes.

Maryland, Westminster: Carrol County Farm Museum

New Hampshire, Franklin: The Daniel Webster Birthplace Living History Project

New Jersey, Cape May: Historic Cold Spring Village

Hearth cooking classes are taught in the Jacob Spicier House, circa 1702. In this photograph — click on it to make it larger — you see Shirley Stefanovicz cooking a beef stew in an iron pot hanging from a hook attached to a crane — an iron bar on a pivot that lets you swing the pot over the hearth away from the fire, or towards, and even over the the fire in the firebox. There is also an outdoor bread oven that is used at Historic Cold Spring Village as part of the cooking demonstrations, weather permitting. (My note: Stews are best cooked very slowly. You can also cook a stew by simply placing the pot on the hearth near the fire and heating it from the fire’s side heat. The stew will simmer on the side of the pot nearest the flames. Once the stew begins to simmer, stir to distribute the heat. Once the stew is hot, it will not need further stirring, a gentle simmer on the side of the pot nearest the fire will be sufficient to complete the cooking.)

New York, Monroe: Museum Village

New Hampshire, Conford: Sharon Ann Burnston

Sharon offers classes in 18th century hearth cooking classes in her very beautiful home.

New York, Long Island: Alice Ross

Alice Ros is a pioneering PHD culinary historian. She offers a wide range of cooking classes, including hearth cooking, baking in a traditional bread oven, and cooking on a wood stove. This photograph of the fireplace in her teaching studio fails to do justice to her wonderful studio space and cooking facility. There is every piece of hearth equipment, every pot, wafer iron, waffle iron, knife, pie pan, posnet, skewer, hook, grill, and etcetera, and etcetera, that you could ever hope to see, much less use. Alice’s spirit radiates throughout her cooking studio and embraces every student and every object. A great scholar, a great teacher, a great cook, and a great person, if you can possibly take classes from Alice Ross, then do.

North Carolina, Brasstown: John C. Campbell Folk School

This is the American institution offering a full range of classes in the American folk arts. Hearth cooking and bread baking are often part of the curriculum. Courses are as long as one-week.

North Carolina , Winston-Salem: Old Salem

(an intact Moravian community)
Phone (336) 721-7350

North Carolina, Pineville

Beginning Jan. 1, 2003, the Historical Cooking Guild of the Catawba Valley will meet at 9 AM on the 2nd Thursday and 4th Monday of each month, September through May. We only meet once monthly June through August; the day varies year to year. We meet at the James K. Polk Memorial, off Hwy. 521, Pineville, NC. Contact Carolyn Dilda at 704-889-7145 for questions or information. Free and open to the public. Our purpose as a guild is to perpetuate and teach the art of hearth cooking to others.

North Carolina , Winston-Salem: Old Salem

(an intact Moravian community) Phone (336) 721-7350

Pennsylvania, Bethlemhem: Bethlehem Plantation

610-691-6055 or 1-800-360-8687

Pennsylvania, Lancaster: Landis Valley Museum

Philadelphia Area: Historic Foodways Society of the Delaware Valley

You may contact Mercy Ingraham for more information: mercyme@peoplepc.com.

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Area: Mercy Ingraham

Mercy Ingraham offers classes at her home in Hulmeville. She lives in a house built in 1750. Mercy has extensive experience demonstrating hearth cooking at historic houses and has a good feel for historic recipes. Mercy’s interest in the hearth, however, goes far beyond historic cooking. Mercy loves the fire and loves food. She understands how to make traditional techniques bring modern recipes alive. Mercy’s hearth is in her kitchen and perfectly captures the spirit of the hearth as center of the home.

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Area: Susan McLellan Plaisted

Susan McLellan Plaisted offers hearth cooking classes at several historic sites and is one of the most broadly knowledgeable interpreters of early American foodways. Susan has the receipts (recipes), techniques, attire, and equipment to correctly interpret and demonstrate Scottish, Welsh, English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Colonial, and Native American foodways practices from many periods of history. She also provides programming in late 18th century English and American ship-board cooking. Susan is the director of foodways at Pennsbury Manor, the recreated 1680’s home of Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn. Susan also directs the hands-on German foodways program at Rittenhouse Towne, the home of Wilhelm Rittenhouse, the first Philadelphia paper maker.

Rhode Island, Westerly: Woody Hill Bed and Breakfast

(401) 322-0452 Combine the pleasures of staying at a New England B&B with learning how to cook a hearth-cooked meal in a reproduction Rumford fireplace and bake oven. Lessons are informal and guests may do as much or little as they wish. Most recipes are authentic 18th century recipes culled from the kitchens of folks such as Thomas Jefferson, but other recipes can be included.

The Society for Creative Anachronisms

The SCA is renowned for its Medieval jousts — and also for its Medieval cooking. The many groups doing reenactments of the American Civil War and the American Revolutionary War are also groups to join if you have in interest in developing hearth cooking skills. Historic reenactment groups exist in England, France, throughout Europe, and in Australia and New Zealand.

Tennessee, Knoxville: Blount Mansion

Ph: (865) 525-2375
Toll-Free: (888) 654-0016

Texas, Dallas: Old City Park

Hearth cooking classes are offered by arrangement to groups of between three and six people. The course offerings are varied, and obviously very personal.

Virginia, Mason Neck: Gunston Hall Plantation

Virginia, Staunton: Frontier Culture Museum

540.332.7850 TTY 540.332.9212