Fire has always been more than a source of heat. It is a place of gathering, reflection, and connection. At OFYR, it is where stories begin, ideas are shared, and moments become memories.
With this new edition of the OFYR Journal, we invite you into a fresh chapter of our journey. A chapter defined by clarity, creativity, and a renewed sense of purpose. Our new look and feel reflects who we are today: confident, refined, and deeply rooted in the essence of outdoor living.
At the heart of this edition are people. Through intimate interviews and honest conversations, we share the voices of those who shape, inspire, and live the OFYR philosophy every day. Designers, chefs, partners, and friends open up about their paths, their passions, and their personal relationship with fire.
We explore the beauty of simplicity. The power of natural ingredients. The importance of craftsmanship, sustainability, and mindful enjoyment. And the magic that happens when time slows down and attention returns to what truly matters: being present, together.
Every page of this journal is meant to inspire you. To encourage you to create, to experiment, and to embrace your own rituals around fire. Whether it is a quiet evening with close friends or a long table filled with laughter, OFYR is there to support moments that feel authentic and meaningful.
This is more than a publication. It is an invitation. To connect. To create. To cook. And to celebrate life outdoors ā in all its richness and beauty. We are grateful to share this journey with you.
Michael Koenig Brand Director OFYR
Through wood,
flame, and shared experience, Kevinās fire-led cooking sparks natural connection.
For Kevin, open fire chef & founder of Open Fire School, fire is not just a tool, itās a craft. Something to read, to feel, and to respect. What started for him as a small backyard barbecue grew into a lifelong fascination with open-fire cooking and ultimately led to the Open Fire School. Not to keep knowledge for himself, but to share it.
Fire demands attention, knowledge and respect. Kevin Kegeleers guides us through the technical side of open fire cooking. On types of wood, flavour, temperature and timing. On creating the perfect fire that turns outdoor cooking on OFYR into an exceptional moment.
The Versatility of Fire
āWhat fascinates me most about cooking on open fire? The versatility,ā Kevin says. āYou donāt need any special equipment to create different cooking zones. One fire is enough. Direct heat, indirect heat, smoke, flames, itās all there.ā This discovery transformed his approach to cooking.
For Kevin, fire is so much more than just another cooking technique. Itās about energy and connection. āYou can, of course, have a conversation at any device, but around OFYR and an open fire, itās different. You see the flames come alive. People have real conversations, itās amazing to see how that moves. Fire sparks dialogue, always and completely naturally.ā
Gathering Around the Fire
The power of fire as a gathering place is central to everything Kevin does. From backyard dinners to events at locations like Zout Erover. āIt only feels complete when thereās fire. Without itā¦ it feels naked.ā It all happenes around the fire. āWe cooked in the center and naturally people gather around. They talked about what happens, how the fire behaved. That togetherness is the key.ā
Wood as a Flavour Tool
Cooking with fire means cooking with wood and the choice of wood makes a world of difference. āUsing the wrong wood can ruin your food. Black smoke? Stop immediately. Pine? Donāt use it.ā
His sacred trio: beech, birch, and ash. āBeech and ash for flavor and stability. Birch I use for quick fire and temperature, especially at events. Ash burns long, beautiful and in a controlled way, without the strong smoke character of oak.ā
Also on the OFYR, he sees these differences clearly. āA blend works best. Birch for flames and heat, ash for steadiness. It gives a cleaner flame, better control, and more atmosphere.ā
Common Mistakes
According to Kevin, haste is the biggest enemy. āLighting too late is classic. In winter, you simply need to start an hour earlier. And never underestimate the wind. Placement is everything.ā
But the most common mistake remains wood choice. āGrabbing a bag of construction-store wood? Likely pine. People thing often that your OFYR wonāt work āproperlyā but really, you just doing it wrong yourself.ā
Charcoal is also a no-go. āIt steals oxygen, you wonāt get flames over your plancha, and you lose everything open fire stands for.ā
Control and Confidence
Temperature control is about observation. āOn the OFYR, thereās about an 80-degree difference between inner and outer rings. That means sear on one side, rest on the other. But you must keep stoking. Donāt wait until your fire dies down.ā
A good fire? āMinimal smoke, dry logs, enough oxygen, and flames that rise over the plancha. Then itās right.ā
Time as
the Key Ingredient
One rule always holds: time. āIf you force it, it breaks. Meat, vegetables, everything needs time. I cook whole celeriac for six hours. Donāt have the time? Donāt do it.ā
This is why Kevin prefers the term outdoor cooking over barbecue. āWhat we do isnāt tossing meat on a grill with beers. This is real cooking. With attention, experience, and respect for the product.ā
Kevinās Open Fire Mini-Guide
Best wood to use:
Ash & Beech, preferably in combination. This combination gives a stable fire, beautiful glow, refined smoke
Basic fire build:
ā¢ Work from small to large
ā¢ Build a pyramid around a fire starter
ā¢ Let the flames rise, fire goes upward
Doās
ā¢ Cook in the flames, but stay attentive
ā¢ Take your time! Fire demands patience
ā¢ Keep your setup clean and organized
Donāts
ā¢ Aluminum foil
ā¢ Pine
ā¢ Charcoal in OFYR
ā¢ Rushing or forcing things- Fire is not about speed Itās about attention.
An Expression of Simplicity & Confidence
At the heart of every OFYR stands a quiet confidence. No unnecessary details, no visual noise, just a clear form built around one elemental idea: fire. According to designer Tim Derhaag, that clarity is no coincidence. It is the result of a deliberate design philosophy where simplicity is not a style choice, but a discipline.
āFor me, itās all about simplicity,ā Tim explains. āEverything we add has to make the OFYR better, never just for decoration. Thereās a logic, a flow, and it all has to work together. Thatās how the OFYR collection becomes one piece.ā
That simplicity is precisely what gives OFYR its strength. The more reduced the design, the more freedom it offers. A single object becomes a platform for countless moments. From a child roasting marshmallows to a professional chef cooking at fine-dining level.
āThe simpler something is, the more people can do with it,ā says Tim. āThatās the beauty of it. But itās also the hardest part. Keeping something simple while making sure it really works, thatās always the challenge.ā
The iconic round shape of OFYR plays a crucial role in this philosophy. Itās not just a visual decision, but a social one. The form naturally removes hierarchy and invites participation.
āBecause itās round, everyone gets the same place,ā Tim explains. āThereās no head of the table. You stand around it together, you cook together. Fire just pulls people in - itās
social by nature. Thatās where the magic happens.ā Fire itself is the true starting point of the design. Without it, OFYR simply wouldnāt exist. Fire is primal and instinctive. Exciting and a little dangerous, yet warm and comforting at the same time.
āFire grabs attention,ā he says. āYou canāt ignore it. People naturally gather around it. Kids understand it immediately, and adults do too. That shared fascination is something very powerful and very human.ā
Timelessness, in Timās view, doesnāt come from reinvention but from restraint. OFYR doesnāt chase trends or dramatic design shifts. Instead, it evolves slowly and deliberately.
āWe donāt do big jumps,ā he explains. āThe Classic already works. Itās just right. So every improvement has to feel like it belongs there. It should never look like something that was added later. Thatās how a design stays timeless.ā
Material choice plays a key role in that sense of authenticity. Corten steel, with its living surface and natural ageing process, feels at home outdoors. It changes with time, weather and use ā gaining character instead of losing it.
āCorten steel was given to us,ā Derhaag says. āIt has life in it. You leave it outside, and it evolves. Itās not sterile or dead. Thatās exactly what you want in an outdoor object.ā
The use of black further emphasizes the strong, graphic silhouette of the design, allowing the form to speak for itself without distraction.
This philosophy also defines the evolution of the Signature Collection. Rather than a departure, it is a refinement. A continuation of the Heritage Collection with sharper details and more sophisticated material choices.
āThe Signature Collection is just the Heritage Collection evolving,ā Tim explains. āSame logic, same proportions, same feeling. You adjust the materials or the finish, and suddenly it becomes a little more refined but it still feels like family. And thatās essential.ā
In the end, OFYRās design DNA is not about creating an object that demands attention. Itās about creating a place. A shared center where people come together, guided by fire, simplicity and timeless design.
OFYR 10th Anniversary Edition Chrome Green 100
OFYR Signature Mise en Place
Mirrored Steel Terra
In 2026, we decided to give the OFYR collection a clearer structure, dividing it into distinct lines, each with its own character and story. The OFYR Heritage Collection, Signature Collection, Pro Collection.
Heritage Collection Heritage
Signature Collection
With
Pro Collection
Fire has always been more than a source of heat. It is where people gather, where time slows, and where stories are born. Cooking with fire is one of the oldest, most enduring traditions and the very soul of asado. A South American ritual rooted in patience, presence, and deep respect for the ingredients. This way of cooking allows no rush. Just fire, food, and the quiet mastery of heat.
With the introduction of the OFYR Cage 100, this timeless way of cooking finds its place within the OFYR 100. Opening up a new dimension of open-fire cooking, the Cage invites you to work vertically with the flames. To read the fire, to adjust distance rather than temperature, and to embrace cooking as a process rather than a result. It is an invitation to slow down, to experiment, and to gather around the fire in its purest form.
The OFYR Cage 100 marks a new chapter for the OFYR 100. An accessory that unlocks the world of asado cooking. Previously available for the OFYR XL and 120, the Cage now brings this ritual of open-fire cooking to the OFYR 100, allowing it to be experienced in its most authentic and expressive form.
Asado is more than a cooking technique; it is a ritual born in South America, where gauchos once prepared meat slowly over open flames, guided by instinct rather than precision. Cooking was never rushed or overly planned. Instead, it was about understanding the fire, respecting the ingredients, and allowing time to do its work. Across Argentina and Uruguay, asado remains a deeply social moment. People gathered around the fire, talking, waiting, and sharing exceptional moments outdoors.
That same philosophy lies at the heart of the OFYR Cage 100. By introducing a vertical cooking space, the Cage allows you to work with distance from the fire instead of fixed temperatures. Different height levels create natural heat zones, giving you full control over intensity. From slow cooking and smoking to direct grilling above the flames. Cooking becomes less predictable, and precisely because of that, more intuitive and rewarding.
The OFYR Grill Round fits seamlessly into the Cage and can even be used twice at the same time, making it easy to create multiple cooking zones. Meat placed higher up cooks slowly and evenly, while pieces closer to the fire sear more quickly, echoing the traditional asado method of adjusting distance to control heat. For those who want to explore even further, the plancha plate from the pizza oven can be placed just as effortlessly inside the Cage. This is perfect for fish, vegetables, or other delicate preparations where precision meets open fire.
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Serves 4
Roast the blood oranges directly over the flames. Hang the grapes on the OFYRās cage and let them lightly caramelize. This enhances the natural sugars in both the oranges and the grapes.
Take a terracotta dish or pan. Lay a base of thyme on the bottom and place the camembert on top.
Arrange the onion and leek around and underneath the cheese. Break the camembert into portions and place the pieces back in the dish so it melts more easily.
Sprinkle the crushed garlic and Herbes de Provence over the cheese and drizzle with olive oil. Then pour a generous splash of white wine over it; this keeps the cheese beautifully creamy.
Place the dish in the OFYR cage or on the grill and let the cheese melt gently and bubble. Occasionally poke it carefully once fully melted.
Scatter the roasted grapes and blood oranges over the dish.
Serve immediately, warm and creamy, with bread for dipping.
Ingredients
ā¢ 1 camembert (or any melting cheese)
ā¢ 1 onion, sliced into rings
ā¢ 1 leek, sliced into rings
ā¢ 4 garlic cloves, crushed
ā¢ 1 tbsp Herbes de Provence
ā¢ A generous splash of white wine (for extra creaminess)
ā¢ A drizzle of olive oil
ā¢ 2 bunches of thyme
ā¢ 3 blood oranges
ā¢ 1 bunch of grapes
ā¢ Bread for dipping
OFYR Signature Plancha 100 & OFYR Cage 100
Five
years ago, Guillaume founded his own catering company, specialising in live fire cooking with OFYR.
From the very beginning, his ambition was clear: to offer far more than traditional catering. He creates true culinary experiences built around fire, quality ingredients and sharing, always in direct connection with the place where he cooks.
Nomadic Braseros
For Guillaume, cooking outdoors starts with a feeling: being closer to nature and the elements. Working with wind, light and weather makes every event unique. The OFYR, designed to be used all year round, becomes a natural focal point. Whatever the season or temperature, the OFYR radiates a special power. Effortlessly bringing people together.
āEvery location carries its own atmosphere and energy,ā Guillaume explains. From a historic chĆ¢teau to a wine estate shaped by passion and craftsmanship, the setting transforms not only how he cooks, but also how the moment is experienced. It influences the rhythm, the layout, the presentation. This meeting between open fire cooking and the location is what makes each event one of a kind.
When the OFYR replaces a traditional kitchen as the centre, something shifts. The chef is no longer separated from the guests. Instead, the fire creates a true gathering point. Friends and family naturally draw closer. They watch, exchange, sometimes participate, and share the experience as it unfolds. Fire becomes the heart of the moment. Guests do not simply wait for a dish; they experience its creation.
We eat first with our eyes and this is even more true with fire cooking. Flames, embers, gestures and ingredients create an immersive, almost theatrical atmosphere
adapted to each location. At times, Guillaume feels as if the flames absorb the soul of a place and return it through the ambiance and the dishes themselves.
For him, cooking over fire is above all an alchemy - instinctive, almost sensual. It is a ritual, rooted in imagination, shaped by time, and imbued with the symbolism of fire. Yet it is also a performance: a constant dance with weather, flame, and heat. A delicate balance between technique and intuition.
If Guillaume had to name an event that always brings him joy, one memory stands out among many: a winter gathering on the terrace of a chalet in Le Grand-Bornand, with the snow-covered Alps as a breathtaking backdrop. The brasero stood at the centre as a source of warmth, conviviality and shared pleasure. A suspended moment where fire became both a visual landmark and a genuine link between people.
Fire speaks everywhere. Its energy, dancing flames, and crackling embers both mesmerize and soothe. When food meets the fire, every sense awakens ā sight, smell, sound, warmth, and taste. Cooking and fire are universal languages. They cross generations and cultures, continuing to unite people around simple, authentic and deeply human moments.
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Essential Accessories
The OFYR experience is about more than just the cooking unit. Itās about creating the perfect setting for unforgettable moments. Over the years, weāve designed a wide range of accessories that complement our cooking units, elevating both the functionality and enjoyment of your outdoor gatherings. From tools that enhance the cooking process to elegant additions that make your outdoor space even more inviting, these must-have accessories are an essential part of the OFYR lifestyle.
Whether youāre a seasoned outdoor chef or just starting your culinary journey, these thoughtfully crafted tools help you make the most of your OFYR experience.
Essential tools for every OFYR chef. The OFYR Spatula Set is specially designed for cooking on the plancha, making it easy to turn, move, and serve ingredients with precision. Durable, comfortable to use, and perfectly balanced, these spatulas help you cook with confidence and control.
OFYR Spatula Set OFYR Oil Can
A small detail that makes a big difference. The OFYR Oil Can allows you to apply oil evenly and precisely to the cooking plate, ensuring perfect results every time. Its elegant design fits seamlessly into the OFYR aesthetic, making it both a practical tool and a stylish addition to your outdoor kitchen.
Expand your culinary possibilities beyond the cooking plate. The OFYR Casserole Set is ideal for preparing stews, sauces, and slow-cooked dishes directly on your OFYR. Crafted for durability and even heat distribution.
Cook with confidence and comfort. The OFYR Gloves provide excellent heat protection while handling hot tools, wood, or the cooking unit itself. Made from high-quality materials, they combine safety with a refined look that matches the OFYR style.
Letās connect and become part of our inner circle. Ultimately, itās all about being together. Long tables, open fires, and meals that are shared. Through images, quotes, and stories, we conclude where OFYR began: around the fire. Because that is where memories are made.
