Food Festival: Salt of the earth

Like chocolate and wine, salt is set to be the new hip food craze.

By ZEV FORMAN
sea salt 88 (photo credit: )
sea salt 88
(photo credit: )
The chemical compound NaCl (table salt) is something we use every day, on almost every meal, and think very little about. However, that is all beginning to change. Like chocolate and wine, which over the last few years have seen a renaissance in the form of booming boutique businesses here in Israel, salt is set to be the new hip food craze. Gourmet and boutique salts have been popping up in kitchen stores for years now, but are just starting to make an appearance on the plates in some of Israel's finest restaurants. Leading the charge is the Israeli salt company, "Salt of the Land", with their campaign to introduce Israelis to gourmet salts. To begin with, they have released a line of premium salts rightfully titled, "Salt of the Earth, Taste of the World", which can be found all over Israel in fine cooking shops. They are offered in four styles in packages of 100 g (20 NIS) or 125 g (39.90 NIS). There are white salt flakes, which add a special flavor to desserts, and spice mixtures. Black salt flakes add a dramatic look to any dish and bring out the flavor in baked goods, meat and fish. The rosemary flavored salt flakes go wonderfully with lamb and potatoes, and finally, the smoked salt flakes add a wonderful touch to all of your grilling adventures. These salts are a great way to bring out the chef in everyone. However, not only Israel's home chefs are getting into the action. For the months of October and November, restaurants around the country are getting into the salty fun of "Salt of the Earth, Taste of the World" by creating special dishes that feature the flavors of the "Salt of the Land" salts. Here are a few that stand out for me; Ha Nishika in Zichron Yaakov will be offering a leg of lamb baked with rosemary salt. Continuing with lamb, Kitchen in Rishon Lezion, will serve a lamb chop in red wine with black salt flakes on a bed of root vegetables. Tel Aviv's La Plancha will unveil a special fresh anchovies dish served with potato salad, roasted peppers and smoked salt, and a Brochette with a market saltwater fish in olive oil, lemon, sundried tomatoes, eggplant, spicy peppers and white salt flakes. Mentioned in the Bible over 30 times, salt has been an important staple in the land of Israel for thousands of years, but "Salt of the Land" is bringing salt to the next level, from something you mindlessly add to food, to a key ingredient that home and professional chefs will love. The "Salt of the Earth, Taste of the World" festival takes place at 14 restaurants around the country, and the salts can be purchased at any cooking goods store. The restaurants include Adom, 31 Jaffa St., Jerusalem. (02) 624-6242; Japro, Tzomet Yokneam, (04) 989-1988; Gusto, Hanaziv 36 (03) 609-3515; The Eleventh Floor, Azrieli Center, Keren Plaza City Center Hotel, Tel Aviv (03) 777-4067; Ha Nishika, HaMisdem 37, Zichron Yaakov; Vintage, Kiat Circle 2, Haifa. 077-5502330 and Chloelys, Abba Hillel Zilber 16, Ramat Gan. Not kosher.