Thread of What You've Eaten, Cooked and/or Drunk Lately

[AKAK]

Wood fired does add to the flavor. On the negative side, besides the high cost to build (even if you DIY), there’s the time factor: it takes hours for the wood fire to bring the oven up to operating temp. Check out the Ooni ovens or one of their competitors. Very close to authentic wood fired flavor, lots less to buy and operate, and ready to cook in about 20 minutes.

I have/had (he's moved but still pending selling his house) this kinda whackadoodle neighbor who decided to build a standalone outdoor all stone bread oven.

Now, this was 10 or so years ago, "so in the before times" but theres no way this thing was less than 15 or 20 grand.

As far as I know he used it 3 times.

 

[Zippercat]

I have/had (he's moved but still pending selling his house) this kinda whackadoodle neighbor who decided to build a standalone outdoor all stone bread oven.

Now, this was 10 or so years ago, "so in the before times" but theres no way this thing was less than 15 or 20 grand.

As far as I know he used it 3 times.

About 3 years ago I got quote of $25-30,000 for stand alone stone patio fireplace and pizza oven, not including the concrete patio to be in front of it. Instead got natural gas Ooni oven and gas fire table and did very large DIY outdoor kitchen with stainless steel cabinets, two level tiled patio, stone veneered privacy wall, etc. for about half that!

 

[AKAK]

About 3 years ago I got quote of $25-30,000 for stand alone stone patio fireplace and pizza oven, not including the concrete patio to be in front of it. Instead got natural gas Ooni oven and gas fire table and did very large DIY outdoor kitchen with stainless steel cabinets, two level tiled patio, stone veneered privacy wall, etc. for about half that!

Yeah so this thing is completely enclosed. And apparently took very little wood to make it work.

Like I said the dude is a little different. He lived 2 doors down and we have pretty big yards with downsloping hills. One day I was letting out the dog and I look over and homeslice is splitting wood into kinda fat kindling size pieces of wood from a larger round. He'd take two or 3 hacks, stop and then tap the head back on to his hatchet. Then take a few more hacks. Etc.

A few minutes later I sit down and take out my phone and my wife is like "hey ee need to get going" and I was like "well... Let's just see if we need to dial 911 here anytime soon. See if we have anything handy we can fashion into a tourniquet"

 

[DubCoffman62]

Yeah so this thing is completely enclosed. And apparently took very little wood to make it work.

Like I said the dude is a little different. He lived 2 doors down and we have pretty big yards with downsloping hills. One day I was letting out the dog and I look over and homeslice is splitting wood into kinda fat kindling size pieces of wood from a larger round. He'd take two or 3 hacks, stop and then tap the head back on to his hatchet. Then take a few more hacks. Etc.

A few minutes later I sit down and take out my phone and my wife is like "hey ee need to get going" and I was like "well... Let's just see if we need to dial 911 here anytime soon. See if we have anything handy we can fashion into a tourniquet"

Surprise him this Christmas

 

[AKAK]

Surprise him this Christmas

View attachment 67571

 

[DubCoffman62]

I've got a funny wood cutting story. When I was 12-13 my father got this idea to make money on the weekend. This was Oregon in the early 80's and it was east to get a permit to go into designated areas to cut down trees for firewood. Most of these place were in the mountains. My dad would go up hill, cut down these huge oak and Madrone trees (madrone makes excellent firewood, it's a rare hardwood evergreen), roll them down the hill and I'd cut them into smaller pieces, take them home, cut it down, split it and sell it by the cord. I believe a cord went for about 50 bucks back then. We'd do 3-4 cords a day. One day my father cut off the nub of a limb and it was like a bowling ball. It started rolling down, hit a rock, changed course right for our truck and hit it broadside. It was a horror to watch. Completely destroy the passenger side door.

 

[TDunk]

You witnessed one of the first Ma-Drone attacks. I'll see myself out to go buy plates from the 1970's now.

 

[AKAK]

 

[TDunk]

Another reason to not eat your vegetables kids.

 

[DubCoffman62]

Reminds me of when my wife and I went to Paris. Our first night there we by chance wandered into a nice little place near our hotel and had a good meal. I still have a picture from inside. Mind you it's 8pm and dinner service is just beginning, we were the first ones there.



We lucked out that night and got a waiter that was willing to humor us not speaking French and tried his best to answer her many questions that she asked in English and did his best to speak English although a few times he had to make animal noises to tell her what the meat in the dish was. She got lamb and loved it so after that she set out to have lamb as often as possible. The next few nights we hit bistros which aren't exactly gourmet places but being we were in France she had high expectations for the food. Our servers weren't as patient with her as the guy from the first night and you could tell she was annoying the hell out of them. She ended up ordering something random and both times it was stewed meat in a pot with vegetables which she didn't like. She even mentioned that the meat was unidentifiable to her. I joked that it was probably a cat or dog, many of both which were roaming the place, jumping on our laps. The next table was so close that they almost burned you with their cigarettes. That's France for you. I had a great time but my wife has sworn never to step foot back into France. The last straw was the night before we left. She had hurried to get to some museum she had wanted to see and got there at the exact second that they were closing their doors to newcomers. She pleaded with the guy to let her in and he just looked at her with the most bored expression that you can imagine, shrugged and waved his finger at her (which was holding a lit cigarette) and told her no and shut the door in her face.