Brick, Flame, & Steel:
The story of building the Campfire Grill oven, 35 years in the making.
In 1987, Starr Teel returned to his summer-camp home of Flat Rock, NC to head up the renovation of the Kenmure Clubhouse, where the “cookhouse” (what is now the Grill Room) still stood separate from the main estate. Inspired by ovens he had seen in Italy as well as the historic fireplace still in the house of Dr. King, Teel pursued what has become a characteristic drive of his, to build something that’s never been built before, the first commercial wood-fire oven in North Carolina. Teel has since gone on to build 5 commercial wood-fire ovens, including that of Camp Falling Creek, Hubba Hubba Smokehouse, and the Flat Rock Village Bakery. His favorite though, the oven that he claims the experience of all the others has led to, is the one that now stands as the heart of Little Rainbow Row’s newest eatery, Campfire Grill.
The Team
If you ask Starr Teel how he accomplishes what he does, he will inevitably answer, “by surrounding myself with smart, caring, passionate people and asking questions.”
The Materials
Since building the Kenmure oven, the materials for all of Teel’s ovens have been provided and consulted on by Larkin Refractory Solutions, headed up by Jim Wunch.
Jim Wunch has been the owner of Larkin Refractory Solutions since 1994. The firm was started in 1976 by John Larkin and on his untimely passing was then acquired by Jim.
Jim is a graduate of Clemson University with a BS in Ceramic Engineering in 1971. Throughout his professional career, he has been involved in all facets of the refractory industry. Beginning in raw material characterization and moving to product development enabled him to transition into sales and marketing. Later he was a plant manager, director of Corporate quality, and a senior executive responsible for sales, marketing and operations of two plants. Jim has traveled extensively throughout his career to visit and consult with most refractory consuming industries worldwide. As a deep thinker, Jim has come up with numerous cost effective solutions to solve thorny problems affecting these industries.
Larkin Refractory Solutions is based out of Lithuania, GA 800.898.4532