posts may contain Amazon affiliate links, which earn me a small commission when you buy (but doesn't cost you anything extra). Occasionally I receive free products and/or run sponsored posts—this will always be stated clearly in the post. Thank you for supporting this blog.

This website contains some quotations, excerpts, and screen clips from copyrighted material. These uses fall well within the copyright doctrine of "Fair Use".
Wednesday, April 1, 2009

This week at the Farmer's Market....Sea Salt? Plus...a Giveaway!

A few weeks ago, I said I was going to be doing a bi-weekly (or so) post featuring something I found at my farmer's market. Well, the ground is still thawing around here, so there is still not much fresh produce to choose from. Still plenty of apples, potatoes & onions hanging around. There is also one booth at which I know the farmer has greenhouses, and this booth is starting to show some bounty. I saw broccoli & even a couple of herbs this week at this booth. But, what I really wanted to focus on this week is a booth that sells Sea Salt! And of course, sea salt is not locally harvested (ah...dreaming of Italy, France, Hawaii...), but it is sold locally and it is wonderful! This booth is run by Charmane Skillen, it is aptly named S.A.L.T., and it is located in my local (South Bend) farmer's market...and, it is a foodie's dream! So many salts to choose from! I have such a hard time choosing, so lately I've begun to just purchase one kind each time I'm there...my most recent purchase was Espresso Bravo Sea Salt. This is one of the "fusion" sea salts (sea salt + espresso, duh). My new favorite dessert is a scoop or two of chocolate ice cream with Espresso Bravo Sea Salt sprinkled over it. It is to die for! Funny, because I've never really been a fan of chocolate ice cream. Charmane suggested I try it this way, and boy am I glad I did. I've always thought chocolate ice cream was a bit, I don't know..flat & boring tasting? Strange because I love chocolate, but I'll be adding it to my cart on a regular basis now. Imagine creamy chocolate ice cream with a salty, crunch and burst of espresso...O M G! S.A.L.T. carries endless options...French Grey, Red Hawaiian, Indian Black, Aguni (Japanese), Trapani (Sicilian), Flor Blanca (Mexican), Bolivian Rose, Cyprus Black Lava, New Zealand Natural....all in different textures (coarse, flake, fine, chunks, bricks). Those are just the "regular" salts. Now think fusion...Aged Balsamic, Black Truffle, Chile Verde, Espresso Brava, Habanero Heat, Lemon Twist, Lime Fresco, Matcha, Roasted Garlic, Smoked Serrano, Soy, Spicy Curry, Sun Ripened Tomato, Szechuan Pepper, Thai Ginger, Vanilla Bean, Vintage Merlot, Wild Porcini Mushroom...seriously, how does a girl(ichef) decide?!? I haven't tried all of them yet, but Charmane will give you a taste of any you'd like to try! Vintage Merlot is amazing on a steak or on some onions & mushrooms. They are also sold in "sampler-sets"...one of which I gave a girlfriend of mine at her Bridal Shower... along with a couple of pinch bowls (which S.A.L.T. also sells). Charmane is opening a booth at the Chesterton (IN) farmer's market soon also (if you're in the Chicago-land area) PLUS she sells them online. Please check out her website and try some of these AMAZING Sea Salts. Check out the vanilla and teriyaki while you're there............see the gorgeous purple flecks of Vintage Merlot Sea Salt?!
Alright then, I'm off to get a bowl of ice cream... My Very First Giveaway! Okay, now that you are super excited about Sea Salt and want to try each and every kind, I want you to head on over to Charmane's website again....and PICK THE ONE, yup...just one, that you want to try the most. Notice that there are 2 pages of salts on her site. One page with "regular" sea salts and one with "fusion" sea salts. After you've decided, come back and leave me a comment with your choice & maybe "why" you want to try that kind in particular. Charmane is going to donate one bag of Winner's Choice of sea salt + she's going to throw in one pinch bowl!!! I'm so psyched, I wish I could enter! Please choose a "loose" variety of salt...coarse, flake, fine...not a chunk (or any vinegar or vanilla). You will have until 11:59 PM (eastern time U.S.) on Saturday April 4th to enter. I will post the winner the following day (or so). If you win, I'll just need you to send me an email with your shipping info. GOOD LUCK!

Would you like to comment?

  1. Nice blog and presentation. I have just voted for your blog in bloggers choice award. http://bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/69551/?utm_source=bloggerschoiceawards&utm_medium=badge&utm_content=bestblogaboutblogging Please vote for me also, if you like. And visit my blog and comment please.
    http://businessvartha.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice blog and presentation. I have just voted for your blog in bloggers choice award. http://bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/69551/?utm_source=bloggerschoiceawards&utm_medium=badge&utm_content=bestblogaboutblogging Please vote for me also, if you like. And visit my blog and comment please.
    http://businessvartha.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am on Charmane's website now and she sells the sea salt that is local to the region in which I live in France - sel gris de Guerande. Funny! If I had to pick one (for the contest!) I would have to choose that Espresso Brava one, too. On chocolate ice cream it looks divine! A close second would definitely be the Roasted Garlic Salt. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dar,

    Have you ever gone to a website and just sat there and stared and stared. That is what I am still doing right this very minute.... (one hour later) This was a very hard choice but I am going with the Vintage Merlot Sea Salt. BUT, I am not waiting to see if I win (because I never win anything) I am putting in an order this very minute. By the way, that ice cream looks really interesting. I want to serve it at a dinner party that I will be hosting in a couple of weeks. Great blog post!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Here is what I ordered: Toasted Onion, Roasted Garlic, Habanero Heat, Lime Fresco!!! Can't wait!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love different salts! I would love to get a Himalayan Pink Salt - I've tried it once in a restaurant and would love to try it at home with various dishes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love gourmet salts! Hubby even built a specialty salt rack for my collection.
    Charmane has many wonderful ones that I haven't seen before - I think the one I was most attracted to was the aged balsamic one. Yum.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great giveaway!I would go with the black truffle salt, I've always wanted to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ok so I realllllllllly just want the fleur de sel. I know maybe it's cliche with alll the amazing varieties they have to offer, but when you make a LOT of butterscotch pots de creme with fleur de sel butter caramel sauce, you want a LOT of fleur de sel.

    I love your blog by the way!

    I also really want the black truffle salt. But I had to pick one :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Red Hawaiian sea salt fine! Thanks for the chance, how sweet of you.. great giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Charmane has a wonderful selection. I'm like a child who can't decide which present to open. Pressed I'd go with Himalayan Pink Salt - for its color.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I see that gourmet salts are the new big food trend, but I had no idea there were THAT many out there! Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a cool giveaway!

    I think I'd have to pick the Chile Verde! It would give a cool kick to a margarita!

    ReplyDelete
  14. ohh..there are just too many to choose from!!

    if i have to choose just one, I will go for the Balck Truffle Salt. I can already imagine having it on my breakfast table with some scrambled eggs!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think I am jealous of your Farmer's Market! Salt is one of my passions--so hard to pick just one but I think it might have to be the Vintage Merlot for it's beautiful color.

    Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would go with the lime fresco. Not only could you cook with it and make some really good food, you can use it with margaritas!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Toasted onion popped out at me, I'm such an onion lover! The smoked salts sound interesting too! I wouldn't be able to pick one, either, you have the right idea getting one every time you visit.

    ReplyDelete
  18. My sister would dig that purple one! Don't you just love our endless sea of food supplies and ingredients. If we were cave people, raw meat, and endless bad hair days!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. How fantastically fun!! And what a terrific giveaway too. I can't wait for my farmers markets to be back in full swing! As for the salt I would love to try the Cyprus Black Lava Mediterranean Flake Salt, I think it would be terrific to try it on the wild salmon and halibut I have in the freezer!

    ReplyDelete
  20. ohhh. i would definitely pick the Cyprus Black Lava Mediterranean Flake Salt. holy yum! i would use it on so many things!

    ReplyDelete
  21. It's got to be Espresso Bravo salt for me! I love chocolate and have been told that a little bit of extra salt really heightens the flavor. I can see using it to give even a small amount of chocolate a HUGE taste!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for the giveaway, the black truffle salt would be my pick. Great idea, I love different salts.

    ReplyDelete
  23. May Canadians enter? I'd most like to try the Aguni Premium Japanese Sea Salt, because I'm intrigued by the mention of using it in coffee (I would never have thought that could be a good combination).

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for this great post! I am a big fan of salt, it's all good in my book. I like the sound of the fusion salts a lot. I think I would probably pick the vintage merlot, the soy salt, or the vanilla. Thanks for the post!

    ReplyDelete
  25. How lucky you are to get such a variety of salt. If I said the Cyprus Black Lava would I be biased, as I am from Cyprus?

    ReplyDelete
  26. I totally want to try the cypress black lava mediterranean Flake salt. I've never heard of flake salt before and the thought of using it as a finisher intrigues me!

    ReplyDelete