Afterglow, Acidity, and What Comes Next by Fire

There is a moment, just after the fire has done its work, when everything softens.

The plates are warmer.

The air smells sweeter.

Conversation slows.

That moment is AFTERGLOW.

On Friday the 13th, Heirloom Fire is hosting Afterglow, a guided Valentine’s dining experience rooted in intimacy, pacing, and presence. This is not a typical prix fixe night out or a crowded celebration. It is a deliberately restrained evening built around contrast and closeness. Fewer guests. Longer pauses. Food that asks you to lean in.

We’ve shared fragments of this dinner already. A Q&A. A few still images. Small glimpses behind the curtain. What hasn’t changed is the intent.

Afterglow is about what remains after the spark.

What lingers.

What warms you after the flame has passed.

Friday the 13th is intentional. It is the quieter night. The night before the rush. A space for those who prefer depth over spectacle and who understand that connection does not have to be loud to be meaningful.

This experience is designed to be small by nature. Seating is intentionally limited to preserve intimacy, pacing, and focus. The room itself is part of the experience.

If you’ve been curious, this is simply an invitation.

Reserve your place.

A QUIET ADDITION TO THE TABLE

As we finalize the shape of AFTERGLOW and begin setting the room, we’re offering a small gesture to those joining us early.

For the next 48 hours, guests who reserve a seat will receive an unreleased Forager’s Pantry item, presented during the dinner itself. This piece will not be sold, reproduced, or offered again.

It is a thank you. Nothing more.

Use code AFTERGLOW13 on the form Valid through 1/29 - 1/31

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FROM PANTRY TO PLATE: A SEASON OF ACIDITY

Between dinners, the work continues quietly in the shop.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve released three small-batch vinegars, each one spun, aged, and finished by hand.

• Summer Cucumber Vinegar

  Fresh cucumbers clarified in our centrifuge, then matured slowly. Clean. Bright. Almost saline.

  
  

• Summer Strawberry Vinegar

  Ripe berries captured at their peak. Gentle sweetness, restrained acidity.

  
  

• Butternut Squash Vinegar

  Earthy, round, savory. A colder weather counterpoint to the summer bottles.

  
  

As always, these are limited runs. When they’re gone, they’re gone. No reprints. No scale-up. Just a moment preserved.

Shop The Pantry while they’re still on the shelf.

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A SIMPLE RECIPE: STRAWBERRY VINEGAR & FIRE-ROASTED CARROTS

This is the kind of dish we cook at home. Quiet. Adaptable. Built around one good ingredient and the right amount of restraint.

FIRE-ROASTED CARROTS WITH STRAWBERRY VINEGAR, HONEY & THYME

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs carrots, peeled and left whole if small

• Olive oil

• Kosher salt

• 1½ tbsp Heirloom Fire Strawberry Vinegar

• 1 tsp raw honey

• Fresh thyme

• Optional: cultured butter or labneh for serving

METHOD

Build a medium fire and let it burn down to steady embers. Toss the carrots lightly with olive oil and salt. Roast directly over the fire or in a cast-iron pan near the embers, turning until blistered and tender.

Warm the honey slightly and whisk with the strawberry vinegar. Remove carrots from the heat and spoon the dressing over while still hot. Finish with fresh thyme.

Serve as is, or spoon over labneh for contrast.

This dish works because the vinegar doesn’t shout. It lifts. That’s the through-line with everything we make.

A NOTE OF GRATITUDE: FIRE KEEPER COLLECTIVE

As we write this, we’re deep in the process of assembling the first Fire Keeper Collective boxes for the quarter.

To those of you who joined: thank you. Truly.

For anyone new here, the Fire Keeper Collective is our most personal offering. Membership includes:

• Four tickets to any public Heirloom Fire events this summer

• Quarterly boxes filled with limited-run Pantry items and objects that will never be sold elsewhere

We built this for the people who’ve been with us year after year. The ones who understand that what we do takes time, patience, and care.

If you missed it during the holidays, keep an eye out. There will be a future window, but it will be brief.

LOOKING AHEAD: WHAT’S COMING BY FIRE

This year is shaping up to be a meaningful one.

We’ll be announcing spring, summer, and autumn dinners soon. Some familiar. Some entirely new.

2026 also marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, and we’re developing a series of events that reflect on land, food, and gathering in a way that feels honest and grounded.

And for those of you in Maine: we’re coming north in late July. Details soon.

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to plan ahead, this is it.

FINAL WORD

Afterglow isn’t about Valentine’s Day in the conventional sense. It’s about closeness. About staying a little longer. About letting the fire do what it does best.

Friday the 13th is still open. We would love to have you at the table.

Reserve your place.