This week at our weekly Fireside & Food session in Ten Acres, we explored one of the oldest and most satisfying methods of outdoor cooking: ponassing fish over an open fire.
At the request of several regular attendees, we brought in fresh rainbow trout and spent the session learning how to prepare, cook, and share fish using traditional fire-cooking techniques. The day combined practical skills, conversation around the fire, and a shared meal outdoors — something that sits at the heart of what Fireside & Food is all about.
What is Ponassing?
Ponassing is a traditional method of cooking fish over an open fire by splitting and securing the fish onto wooden sticks or frames placed near hot embers. Rather than cooking directly in flames, the fish slowly roasts using radiant heat from the fire.
The technique allows the fish to cook evenly while taking on a subtle smoky flavour from the wood and smoke. It is a simple but highly effective method that has been used by communities around rivers, lakes, and coastlines for generations.
The word “ponassing” is believed to have roots in Indigenous North American cooking traditions, particularly among First Nations communities in parts of Canada. Variations of the technique were widely used wherever fresh fish formed an important part of local diets. Fish would often be butterflied open, lightly seasoned, and secured to green wood stakes positioned around a fire to roast slowly.
Many traditional outdoor cooking methods around the world follow similar principles: slow cooking over embers, careful management of heat, and using natural materials to prepare food in the landscape itself.
Preparing the Trout
The session began with learning how to properly gut and clean the rainbow trout. For many people attending, this was their first experience preparing whole fish themselves.
We talked through the anatomy of the fish, safe knife handling, and how to clean and prepare the trout in a respectful and efficient way. Learning where food comes from — and becoming comfortable preparing it — is an important part of reconnecting with outdoor food traditions.
Once cleaned, the trout were split open and secured onto wooden cooking stakes before being positioned around the fire at the right distance from the embers.
One of the key skills in ponassing is patience. Cooking too close to the flames can burn the outside while leaving the inside undercooked. The best results come from steady heat, careful positioning, and regularly checking the fish as it cooks.
As the trout slowly roasted beside the fire, the smell of woodsmoke and cooking fish drifted across the site.
Food Around the Fire
Alongside the trout, we prepared dill and lemon fried potatoes, fresh salad mixes, and interesting fruits to share together.
One of the strengths of outdoor cooking is how naturally it brings people together. Preparing food around a fire creates space for conversation, learning, and community in a way that feels very different from modern indoor cooking.
People moved between helping with preparation, tending the fire, chatting, and sharing stories while waiting for the fish to cook. The process itself becomes part of the meal.
Why Traditional Skills Matter
Sessions like this are not just about cooking. They are also about rebuilding confidence with outdoor skills, learning practical knowledge, and connecting with both nature and each other.
Traditional fire-cooking methods encourage people to slow down and pay attention — to heat, timing, materials, and the environment around them. They also help build appreciation for food preparation in its most direct and simple form.
For many attendees, trying ponassing for the first time opened up conversations about cultural food traditions, fishing practices, sustainable cooking, and memories of cooking outdoors with family members.
Join Us Around the Fire
Fireside & Food takes place every Thursday from 10am–2pm in Ten Acres, and everyone is welcome to join us.
Each week is a little different, with opportunities to learn outdoor cooking skills, share meals, spend time around the fire, and connect with others in the community.
If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know in advance by emailing:
fireside@reavalleystirchley.co.uk
We look forward to seeing you around the fire soon.
