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Photographer: Syd Whittle
Taken: January 11, 2009
Caption: Bee-Hive Oven on the Grounds of the Castro Adobe
Additional Description: BEE-HIVE OVEN An early California cook had to plan ahead to bake meals in the horno, or bee-hive oven. A fire was built inside the oven to heat the adobe walls. After about three hours, the cook removed the ashes and embers, then inserted the food with a long handle paddle, a pala. Radiant heat from the oven walls baked meat, bread or vegetables. Next to the horno is a fire table. An iron plate, or comal, was laid across stacks of bricks on the table, and used as a skillet. A fire built under the comal heated it, so the cook could prepare tortillas or fried foods.
Submitted: January 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.
Database Locator Identification Number: p50155
File Size: 2.447 Megabytes

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