Home Rooms and Rates General Information Special Events Directions Check Availability Hearth Cooking
Woody Hill Bed & Breakfast
(401) 322-0452 

Hearth Cooking Lessons


Stirring batter
Hearth cooked meal
Ellen stirring cornmeal
Pork Roast in the tin oven
Carrots over the fire


Prepare and enjoy authentic colonial (or modern!) dishes cooked in an 18th century reproduction keeping room. A multi-course meal will be prepared and cooked on the open hearth and in a nearby bake oven, using antique and reproduction cookware. Great idea for family celebrations.

Learn every aspect of open hearth meal preparation
from bringing in wood to cooking in a bake oven.

"The quiet of the keeping room gave way to rat-a-tat chopping...and the occasional 'Which pot should I use? Is the fire hot enough? Does the cornbread look done?'

As we went along, Ellen described the characteristics of each type of cooking vessel (spider, gypsy kettle, hanging griddle, Dutch oven).   She reminded us to feed the fires and preheat our pans slowly....

Some dishes dangled from a long iron rod over the flames, others nestled in the base of the coals.  At one point, I counted six different pots and pans in the fire, each the responsibility of a different cook jockeying his or her pot into position at the hearth.

'Time to turn the roast!'  Ellen would call out, and whoever was nearby cranked the handle on the tin reflector oven."                                               Lydia Walshin, RI Monthly Magazine, Feb 2007

 

Sample Menu and Featured Recipe         Recipe Link
  • Golden butternut squash soup with biscuits or corn oysters cooked on hanging griddle
  • Tasty New England cornbread prepared in the "spider"
  • Succulent roast pork or turkey cooked in the tin reflector oven
  • Savory pear chutney, cranberry relish & hearty winter root vegetables
  • Thomas Jefferson's bread pudding (with chocolate sauce) baked in the beehive oven
  • Clove cake or Martha Washington's spiced gingerbread cooked in Dutch oven

Details


Lessons are held in an authentically recreated keeping room with interior paneled shutters,
12-over-12 windows, wide pine floor boards, paneled fireplace wall, and tavern cage bar.


Reservations may be made for individuals, couples and groups.

Classes:

Hearth Cooking

  • November 19 (DAR -- full) 
  • Feb. 4, 2012 (room for 2 more)
  • Feb. 25, 2012 (room for 1 more)
  • March 24, 2012  (perhaps mid day ~ 2 spaces left)

  • Dates by special request
Gift certificates available for your special occasions.

 

Note:

  • Workshops vary between four to six hours and include preparing and consuming the meal.
  • All food and supplies are included in the cost of the workshop. (Participants are welcome to bring their own wine.)
  • The ideal number of participants is 8 per class; minimum of 6.
Rates per Person


Historical h
earth cooking provides enough food for multiple meals because of the authentic recipes, preparation time and labor involved.  Due to this my classes are designed for groups of 6-8 at $55 per person. For overnight guests, the price is $45.00.

Alternate arrangements may be made for smaller groups but at a price which still covers the costs of the recipe ingredients, preparation, and labor involved. Please contact me to discuss prices.

 
Special Groups: Special arrangements are available for docents associated with historical sites and for children's groups.

Woody Hill Bed & Breakfast
149 South Woody Hill Road
Westerly, Rhode Island 02891
(401) 322-0452

Dr. Ellen L. Madison, Host

woodyhillbandb@verizon.net

Woody Hill Bed and Breakfast Logo
Home Rooms and Rates General Information Special Events Directions Check Availability Hearth Cooking

Top five photos and biscuits photo by Reena Bammi for RI Monthly Magazine, February 2007