Out of the Fire

Connections Summer Edition

Orange you interested in the new addition to our wine list?

We have just added an orange wine made from Chenin Blanc grapes grown in the region of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The process of making orange wine or skin contact wine involves leaving the grape skins intact so they stay in contact with the juice for days and in some cases months. The practice has a long history in wine making dating back hundreds of years in Slovenia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and thousands of years in the Eastern European wine producing country of Georgia.

Remhootge is a family owned South African winery that creates this lovely orange wine. They engage in experimental bottling under the label Free to Be. They practice minimal intervention by letting the relationship between the vines, climate and the terroir express the character of the grape. The grapes are hand sorted and exposed to wild and natural yeast to ferment resulting in a beautiful and nuanced wine. Ask us for a taste!

"Grace in Liminality" by Sharon Malley

What’s Hanging?

We are always trying to keep the walls of Out of the Fire fresh with art from our local artisans. Our latest addition is the beautifully thoughtful creations of Sharon Malley. Sharon’s abstract paintings center on her deep appreciation and respect for nature and her dire concern for the effects of climate change. In addition, she paints narratives depicting stories of her past while growing up on the Eastern Shore. She chooses oil as her primary medium and adding acrylic, rice paper and other collage elements to the background.

Anna Harding graces the walls with her meticulously executed botanical art using colored pencils as her medium. She has recently added fungi and lichen to her exhibit. The detail and the sensitivity to the subject matter is to be admired.

Rita Ting-Hopper shares the dining room walls with Anna Harding. Rita creates beautiful ethereal botanical art utilizing watercolor paints, some reminiscent of sea anemones. The care in which she applies the watercolor to the surface on which she works is both delicate and whimsical.

Holly Jackson

Holly is a mixed media textile artist who combines antique hand stitching techniques with modern semi-industrial materials. Often working in relief and incorporating textile sculpture into her work. The name of this technique is Stumpwork. Holly focuses on exploring her interests in climate change and history.

Irene Aspell exhibits two mediums. Her linocut prints of fish and birds greet you at the door. In addition she has an installation of ceramic trout that are swimming on our fence in the garden. Irene’s husband, Paul Aspell is a tried and true potter! He makes our silverware rests and our cream pitchers. However, that is not all he creates. Paul is prolific in making functional pottery in the shape of plates, mugs, bowls and vases.

Are you in the Spirit?

The tequila that is in our Gochu-Grapefruit cocktail is Cayeya. We chose to add Cayeya to our spirit list because we were intrigued by their ethos. Sustainability is at the heart of their commitment. The bottle is a testament to their efforts to do their part for the environment. Each bottle is meticulously hand-crafted from recycled Coca-Cola bottles at a family-owned artisan glass factory in Jalisco, Mexico. This approach not only showcases their dedication to re-imagining materials but also supports local craftsmanship.

In our pursuit of a greener future, their corks, hang tags, and labels are thoughtfully sourced from recycled materials, forming a harmonious blend of innovation and responsibility. This comprehensive approach results in a package that is entirely sustainable, a small but impactful step towards preserving our planet's resources.

Cayeya's motto: "Take care of the land and the land will take care of you". By championing sustainable practices, they contribute to the wellness of their environment while crafting exceptional tequila experiences.

Our Garden

Eric Wittman is the steward, creator and inspiration of the Out of the Fire garden. We learn something from him each time he visits. Trying to retain his encyclopedic knowledge of what is planted in the garden is a losing task! Recently we have had many inquiries about the tall, almost prairie-like looking flowers. They are called Henry Eilersl Rudbeckia. The petals are rolled instead of flat like a Black Eyed Susan giving it a quilled effect. Take note on a breezy day as they wave to you as you stroll up the path. You will see that we have harvested some to place in recycled Cayeya tequila bottles and placed them at the bar.

Spice it Up!

Gochu what?

Gochugaru! A spice that was introduced to Korea by Japanese traders in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). It has been a staple ingredient in Korean cuisine since its introduction. Over the past several years it has made its way into the recipes of adventurous and creative kitchens. It has a smoky flavor and can range in heat from mild to slightly spicy. 

Currently we are utilizing its versatility on a grilled cheese sandwich offered on the lunch menu. The grilled cheese is a combination of Chapel Farms Brie, Fontina on our house made “almost” white bread (Jed’s Bread) finished with Gochugaru hot honey (Maxmore Creek Farm honey..thank you Lisa Ghezzi!) and chives. It is a wonderful combination of sweet, spice and savory. Gochugaru has also made its way onto our cocktail menu as an ingredient in our Gochugrapefruit. It is a combination of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, Cayeho tequila, our freshly squeezed sour mix and the same Gochugaru honey featured on the grilled cheese. Lisa was recently in for lunch and combined both for a perfectly indulgent lunch. We are happy and proud to highlight her honey! Lisa is equally proud of her industrious bees! 

What We Listen To, Read, and Watch in our free time

Alan-Listening to: Kendrick Lamar-Good Kid, Maad City on Vinyl

Amy-Reading: Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World Essays by Barry Lopez. 

Anna-Listening to: Mt. Joy on Spotify

Blake-Watching: Unbroken on Netflix

Chris- Watching: The Curse on Paramount

Caleb- Watching: House on DVDs

Colleen- Listening to: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus on Audible

Devin- Reading: Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

Heather-Reading: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Hudson-Reading: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Jed- Listening to: The Fantastic Negrito- White Jesus Black Problems on Spotify and Listening: Making it So, Patrick Stewart’s Autobiography on Spotify

Jonathan- Listening to : Zack Bryan on Spotify

Jose-Listening to: ZacK Bryan on Music

Justin-Watching:: House of Dragons on HBO

Katherine-Watching: Lost on Netflix

Katie-Reading: The Emergency by Thomas Fisher

Lucius-Watching: Masters of the Air on Apple TV

Matt-Reading: The Path Between the Seas-David Mcullough

Marianne-Listening to: Two Girls One Ghost on Spotify

Mitchell-Watching: Always Sunny on Hulu

Peyton- Listening to: Eminem on Spotify

Sedat-Listening to: BBC Gatekeepers Podcast on Apple

Taylor-Reading: American Forest- A History of Resilience and Recovery by Douglas W. MacCleery

Trey- Watching: Psych on Hulu

Looking for a thoughtfully curated gift?

In addition to our in-house made breads, ice cream, and pantry items, we also feature goods and artwork with local connections. Check out our online market.

Market Product Highlight