Saturday, September 19, 2020 by Gabrielle Martin
All of a sudden fall has arrived, and our new best friend is our fire pit: perfect for socially distancing with close friends and family outdoors, fire pits help keep stay outside a little later into the fall! Even as the temperatures cool, you'll stay cozy fireside. Gabrielle Martin has all the tips for upping your fire pit game this fall with supplies and snacks from Hingham-based businesses. Check it out below:
SUPPLIES
BUNDLE UP WITH BLANKETS: Whether setting up at home or heading out, bring along your favorite cozy blanket for optimal hygge. Check out La Petite Maison for beautiful blankets and The Coop in Downtown Hingham for some cozy winter hats and fleece jackets, sure to keep you warm from fall to winter!
STEP UP YOUR S’MORES GAME: You know the classic trifecta: marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate, but if you want to up step up your s’more game for this staycation, opt for some chocolates from Puopolo Candies. Though their storefront is closed, they’re currently offering curbside pick-up as well as local delivery in the Hingham area. We suggest selecting their milk or dark chocolate plain squares; they’re perfectly s’more-sized!
Also: don’t forget about the sticks required to roast those ‘mallows! There are a lot of reusable options available in stores or online, but a simpler alternative is to collect sticks and branches! Good places around town to collect roasting sticks include the Hingham Town Forest and Wompatuck State Park.
FIREWOOD: Get yours from this Hingham family owned-and-operated firewood business, Seasoned Firewood Hingham. Their firewood is a mix of hardwoods (oak, maple, ash, and hickory) and is seasoned for 1 year. They even offer free delivery!
HOT DOGS and SAUSAGES: Get the meats for your backyard bonfire from local celebrity David Littlefield, perhaps more famously known as The Sausage Guy, available at local grocery stores: their Sweet and Hot Sausages are available at Big Y, Clements, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop, where their all-beef Hot Dogs are exclusively sold. Their sausages come in a variety of flavors, from Beer Brats to Bourbon, and are said to be “the flavor of Fenway,” alternatively referred to as “New England’s No. 1 Sausage.” Get some to complete your backyard bonfire and invest in local flavors!
DRINKS: We consulted Ralph Hersom, the “Ralph” of Ralph’s Hingham Wine Merchant, self-described as “the destination for wine, beer, and food lovers on the South Shore.”
Ralph recommends these two reds:
- 2018 Nicolas Pointeau Chinon “Vieilles Vignes,” pairs well with red meat,
- 2018 Dashe “Vineyard Selection” Zinfandel, goes great with burgers!
Ralph also offered his top two local beer picks that would pair well with a backyard bonfire:
- Shakesbeer’s “Act One” New England IPA (5.5% ABV) from Hingham,
- Untold Brewing’s “King Friday” IPA (6.1% ABV) from Scituate.
If you're more in the mood for a seasonal cider to pair with your backyard staycation, Ralph suggests picking up Citizen Cider's "Unified Press."
CHEESES AND CHARCUTERIE: "How about some fabulous cheeses and charcuterie for fireside enjoyment?" Ralph asks. Here's what he recommends:
- Shelburne Farm's 2-year Vermont Extra Sharp Cheddar,
- La Queseria Artesana 6-month Manchego,
- Beemster Signature 12-month Gouda,
- La Quercia Prosciutto Americana,
- Vermont Uncured Smoked Pepperoni,
- Marcona Almonds,
- and Rustic Bakery's Organic Sourdough Flatbread Crackers (or you can opt for Onesto's Gluten-Free Sea Salt Crackers!)
DON’T FORGET THE BUG SPRAY: While fire pits sometimes help curb the bugs, it's always a good idea to protect yourself outdoors; there's nothing worse than mosquitos ruining a night of outdoor fun! Did you know that The Anchor recently launched our “Green Living” section? In the spirit of green living, here’s a list of environmentally-friendly bug sprays to consider for your backyard bonfire.
Of course, it’s important to be mindful of Hingham outdoor fire regulations while hosting your backyard bonfires; it’s also a good idea to keep your festivities limited to your family and a few friends as the town moves into a higher-risk COVID zone.
Share your backyard bonfires tips with us–we have a feeling we'll be keeping the fires going this fall as long as we can!