Expert: John Langenfelder - 6/19/2008

Question
Hi:

I am looking for a tandoor clay oven that can be fueled by bituminous coals. I've looked at many shops on and off the net. I've not been able to find one that I'm sure is safe to use bituminous coals on. Some use charcoal but I don't know if its safe to use bituminous coals on these oven.

I feel gas and charcoal are too bland. They don't give the flavor I like. To my nose and taste buds, nothing is more pleasant than garlic naan [Indian garlic bread] cooked in a clay oven fueled by bituminous coals. The earthy aroma of the clay combined with that of the bituminous coal really gets me appetite going.

Also, what type of heat is mostly used in clay oven to cook food -- radiant, conductive, or convective?


Thanks,

Green

Answer
Sorry, not in my area of expertise.  Where would you get the coal?  A friend of mine has a clay oven from Napa style, where he does bread and pizza.  he uses charcoal and wood.  Wood does get hotter than charcoal.  but he is constantly moving it around as it just doesn't seem to cook fast enough.  he continues to search for the solution.

sorry best I can do.