Ash, salt, patience

Ash first: a live fire is never still, and neither is the cooking. You learn to read the coals, to bank them and rake them, to know where the heat is without touching it.

Salt next: fire concentrates everything, so seasoning has to be braver and better timed. Too early and it draws moisture; too late and it sits on top.

Patience last, and hardest. The fire decides when things are ready, not the ticket rail. Rushing it is the one mistake you can taste.