until recently, in Japan, it was common to have an open fire pit inside your house. This is called an irori'. Usually local, handmade charcoal is used(many people make it---the real stuff). I have lived in 2 houses with irori's and have spent many times at the irori in friends houses. Their are even restaurant's with irori's here.
There are so many ways to enjoy food sitting at the fire and having a drink. Of coarse their are many soups(nab'e), and many things you can grill. The first thing that comes to mind is warming up some sake and lightly grilling some fresh shitake mushrooms and some 'aburage' with some spicy miso and 'negi'(stone leeks).
I live along a river so we also have many kinds of grilled fish. We dry many salmon in Winter and then grill them when needed.
Last week we grilled 2 big eels sitting around the fire until I don't remember time.

www.historicfood.com has some great hearth recipes.

www.spitjack.com has a great tutorial on how to build a proper cook fire (and some really neat equipment).

"The Magic of Fire" by William Rubell (www.williamrubell.com) is a hearth cooking must-own and has really yummy recipes. With the right equipment, there's not a whole lot you can't cook over an open fire (like an entire Thanksgiving dinner).

-Katie