Every guest asks about the oven, and most are a little afraid of it. There is no need to be. It is only a brick dome, a pile of dry oak and a bit of patience.
An hour of fire, then dinner
Build a small fire just inside the mouth and push it slowly to the back as it grows. After about an hour the black soot on the roof of the dome turns white. That is the sign that it is hot enough.
Pizza first, while the oven is fierce. Then the roast potatoes. Then, as it cools overnight, a pot of beans for tomorrow.
The oak is stacked in the barn and the peel hangs by the door. If you would like a lesson on your first evening, just ask. It takes twenty minutes and a glass of wine.