What do you call the fire that is built outdoors and for cooking only (not for camping)?

Example:

The barbecue tasted incredible, with that unique aroma that only [...] gives to the meat.

I thought of using the word campfire but in the sentence the barbecue isn't taking place in a camp; it’s just some grilling on the beach. I also thought of open air fire. But I wonder if there’s a shorter phrase or a single word for it?

Solution 1:

As a native American English speaker living in the Northeast United States, I would refer to this colloquially as a cookfire (or cook fire).

Dictionary.com defines cookfire as follows:

cookfire - a fire for cooking

For example, in the town of Mattapoisett Massachusetts, an individual must apply for a cook fire permit before starting a cook fire.

The permit allows the kindling of a fire no bigger than 2 feet in diameter for the purpose of cooking a meal or recreation.

A cook fire requires a proper fire pit to be built. A ring of stone, firebrick, or metal must completely surround the fire.

Note, a cookfire is distinct from a barbecue or hibachi or grill.

Cookfire image courtesy of historiccamping.com:

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Solution 2:

Probably wood fire is the expression you are looking for:

Fire from wood usually gives a special, distinct flavour to food. Wood fire is also used for indoor cooking because of its characteristics.

Wood-fired ovens:

also known as wood ovens, are ovens that use wood fuel for cooking.

Solution 3:

Why not barbecue itself? There are very few times when one will associate barbecue without fire (or grill) or food.

Note that barbecue doesn't necessarily specify the method (grilling, broiling, etc.) of cooking, just that it's a [gathering around a] heat source for cooking out of doors.

Edit:

The answer is to the title. But the body asserts a different question:

The barbecue tasted incredible, with that unique aroma that only [...] gives to the meat.

Except, generally, wouldn't you want to eat an item prepared on the barbecue?

The chicken tasted incredible, with that unique aroma that only barbecue gives to the meat.

This would present a better picture overall, because it not only describes what is being cooked, but how it was prepared.

Solution 4:

I've heard of people saying smoking. Like Smoked ham, it basically is what everyone else is saying about the wood fire etc. but mine is more colloquial to me, though mine is shorter ;-)