Clay Ovens Across Time: Cooking, Craft, and Gathering
Earth ovens, known by various names across cultures—horno, tandoor, forno, fouqar, tabun and many others—are ancient cooking structures that have transcended time and geography, shaping culinary traditions and communal practices. These ovens are far more than just tools for cooking; they embody the ingenuity, resilience, and cultural depth of the communities that have crafted and utilized them for millennia. They offer a timeless connection to the earth, using simple materials to produce food that sustains both body and soul. In the Southwest, hornos have been an integral part of Indigenous communities' history, where they have been utilized for baking bread and other staple foods, maintaining a practice that has been adapted over generations while remaining central to community gatherings and traditions.
The Americas
Africa
Europe
Middle East & South Asia
2023: we met a pizza baker in CA, traveling north with his horno!
In 2025, earth ovens still provide a timeless way to come together and celebrate shared traditions. Whether it's an horno, tandoor, imu, lovo, or forno, cooking in these ovens has a way of bringing people close, turning meal preparation into a collective experience. The process of using natural materials and traditional methods creates a space for connection, focusing on the simple joy of cooking and sharing food. We invite you to slow down, enjoy the warmth of these ancient ovens, gather around the fire with others, and savor the flavors of history while creating lasting memories.
Our Commitment to Honoring Earth Oven Traditions
At Eye of the Horno, we honor the rich heritage of earth ovens, drawing inspiration from the traditional horno while blending it with modern sensibilities. These ovens connect us to the land, bringing people together through the timeless ritual of cooking. Rooted in global traditions, we particularly honor the place of hornos in the Indigenous cultures here in the Southwest. Using traditional techniques and natural materials, we let the ovens do their work—connecting us through food, fire, and the earth around us.
