About Tony | 'Tony's Salt Blog'

Welcome to my blog about salt.

Really? A blog about salt, what is there to say about salt? You pick up the shaker and shake out the fine white crystals on to your food…what more is there? Ahhh let me tell you…

I have been a chef and cooking my whole life. I only recently learned about all the different salts out there, and how salts have affected the worlds history. It all started by picking up a book at the bookstore, called Salted by Mark Bitterman. You can get it here. Funny thing, I thought I was buying a book by Mark Bittman, who’s cookbooks I like.

Why do I like Sea Salt?

Being a chef for years, and my love for food and cooking…I always used Kosher salt, and thought I was above your average home cook, using table salt. Then a few years ago, I learned about all the Gourmet/Artisan Salts out there. In Bitterman’s book he talks about 157 different types of salt. Really 157!

I literary bought a sample pack of 100 different salts. They were all amazing, all for different reasons. Some were great to finish on a salad, others were better on a steak, some I didn’t like at all. Actually the one I liked the least is Amethyst Bamboo and it costs $38.50 for a 1.2 oz jar. More expensive is not necessarily better, it is all about your personal taste.

Why do I want to teach you about salt?

Salt overall has a bad rap. These salts are still Sodium Chloride, NaCl, not any better for you than table salt. However when used as a finishing salt, you will use a lot less and still enjoy the salty flavor…even more so.

Salt is vital for life. To much is bad for you, but at the same time cutting it out completely is even worse for you. One problem is that sometimes the symptoms of too little salt are the same as too much salt. People should be eating about 1.5 to 2.5 teaspoons of salt a day. However most processed foods are filled with salt, so you could be getting a lot more salt than you realize.

I have done Salt Tasting Classes, where I created several different food items simply and unseasoned. The people would then get to season with the different salts that I provided. Everyone is always amazed at how different each salt affects the food they are eating. At one class there was a guy who was being rude during the first part, half way through he started engaging as he knew about some of wars or battles I was talking about, that were directly influenced by salt. After it was over he apologized to me, said his wife forced him to come and couldn’t understand how this could be enjoyable. He said he really loved it and was glad he came.

Why did I start Tony’s Salt Blog?

I started this blog for two reasons.

First, to try and put together information that I found exciting, and thought someone else might as well. The gourmet salts out there, all have a story, some sound amazingly far fetched. I have found it all incredible to learn about, in the upcoming posts, I will be sharing what I have and will continue learn about salts with you.

Second, for a selfish reason, to force keep me learning and exploring all there is to know about this life required substance.