Notes from the pass.

Reading the Fire, Not the Thermometer

At Candela, the hearth is the kitchen's true center — and understanding live fire means learning to read color, ash, and ember rather than reaching for a probe.

The Case for Finishing Salt

In a wood-fired kitchen, timing is everything — and nothing proves that more than the moment a pinch of flaky salt lands on a dish right before it leaves the pass.

Where the Fish Actually Comes From

Behind every dish at Candela is a story — and the fish on your plate has one worth telling, starting with a handshake years ago at a dock before sunrise.