If you can hold your hand over the briquettes for about 2 seconds the fire is considered to be a very hot temperature. 3-4 seconds of comfort equals a hot fire perfect for a direct heat method of cooking. Once your fire is ready you can add a variety of hardwood chips or fresh herbs to add flavor to your food. Oak, Hickory, Cherry, Alder or Apple woods are all popular choices to grill with, but I recommend adding them to a already hot fire for flavor and smell. Using wood as the primary fuel does take a longer time to burn down and will not last as long as charcoal, except for Mesquite wood found in the Southwest and Mexico.
Mesquite burns very hot and at a high cooking temperature.
It produces a wonderful light Smokey flavor that is not as strong a flavor as other fruitwoods. Avoid using wood scraps from construction sites. Pressure treated lumber contains chemicals that can be toxic. Fresh herbs and citrus fruit rinds can also add a wonderful flavor to your fire. You can also mix in lemon rind.