How do you present sea salt/kosher salt at the table?
I have started using random small dishes I own (I have a set of very old vintage cordial glasses from my grandmother that are all uniquely-shaped) as salt cellars. but I'm wondering...do they still make salt cellars? I know I can hit an antique shop but most of the ones that aren't chipped are kind of expensive, in my experience.
Thoughts? And I don't want a salt grinder.
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SanseiDesigns
Jan 16, 2007 02:05 AM
Little sake cups would work well, also. They are dainty, come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and styles to accommodate any table.
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IndyGirl
Jan 15, 2007 12:32 AM
hello all--just to update, I got some individual little bowls from Crate and Barrel. They were fairly cheap and I bought enough for each potential guest to have one (as long as there are no more than 8 of us, and at that point I'd find a less fussy way of presenting the stuff!).
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I keep a little olivewood bowl of fleur de sel on the table. There's a spoon, but we simply pinch when it's just family. Salt is actually a very inhospitable medium for bacteria, so I don't really worry about it. (Although I was a bit grossed out a number of years ago when I caught the cat lapping it up.)
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leanneabe
Jan 12, 2007 10:17 PM
Well, my idea is nowhere as cute as everyone else's "salt cellars", but I bought some condiment bowls (I forget what Ikea officially calls them) from Ikea and they work pretty well for small amount of salt (like for 1 person). They're made of glass and are about 2" in diameter at the top.
But if you were looking for something simple and cheap, that's the way to go. They're pretty durable, so you definitely wouldn't have to worry about them breaking.
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MMRuth
Jan 12, 2007 07:39 PM
I use a little dark green "hen on nest" when it's just the two of us ....
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rworange
Jan 12, 2007 05:12 PM
Nigella Lawson sells tiny table-sized salt piglets in various colors.
http://www.coolcalmcollected.net/prod...They don't seem to come with spoons ... I'm in the no-fingers-in-the-salt camp ... but I suppose you could pick up a set of demitasse spoons to use. A tiny spoon would seem to rest nicely on that tray.
Actually if you had tiny enough demitasse cups and spoons you could use those for a different presentation.
Also ... egg cups, nut cups, votive candle holders (those are cheap at the local market and some are pretty). If there are any Chinese cookeware/markets in your area, there are all sorts of pretty, clever little dishes and spoons that could be used to hold salt. Actually the little tiny tea cups would work.
Less formal, but you might check out local party supply stores which have all sorts of nut cups and candy favor containers as well as those little ice cream sample spoons. Some of the wedding stuff is gold or silver foil and might look nice on a table. Lots of theme stuff too so on Christmas, Thanksgiving you could add an inexpensive holiday touch to the table.
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The food we serve is so perfectly season that there is no need for salt at our table. =)
However, for everyday use I use a tiny vintage salt shaker served with granulated sea salt.
I haven't found a salt cellar that I really like but I prefer one with a spoon. I don't want a bunch of grimy fingers digging around in the bowl.
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I do find in one certain instance the use for a salt grinder. I love very coarse, minerally grey French sea salt. Often it comes in very large crystals that need to be broken down for table use, and even a lot of cooking uses. Peugot makes a specific salt grinder for moist, grey salts that has an all plastic mechanism to prevent corrosion.
I've found this to be a very useful tool.
Kosher salt, I just take my red Emile Henry salt pig to the table. Overkill? perhaps, but it still makes a great presentation.
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Magnapro
Jan 12, 2007 04:23 AM
I throw a little over my shoulder and then plunk down the various salts in assorted containers and let the guests choose.
Keep it simple and enjoy the food don't place too much emphasis on the container.
I also give them a few pepper mills to choose from it's fun.›1 Reply -
In a "pot du sel" - a little bowl with a little spoon:-) The whole finger thing grosses me out completely (unless everyone had a separate bowl and the salt is discarded after dinner - seems like the perfect way to spread Norwalk virus) so the little spoon allows people to take a pinch without pinching!!
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Salt cellar wins over small bowl or ramekin because the lid keeps dog hair and parsley out. Bowl/ramekin wins over salt cellar because guests can dip in freely with their fingers, single-handed, and season food according to touch. I suppose it is up to Williams-Sonoma to offer an infra-red salt cellar that opens up when it senses a set of fingertips looming near ($58).
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My wife found these little cut glass bowls maybe the size of a walnut cut in half. And get this....they come with tiny little "punch ladle" spoons. She says they are called "salt cellars". Find them in specialty stores or more likely antique shops.
Usually i just put out the same bowl i use for cooking. and people use their fingers or a spoon.
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re: chrisinroch
Candy
Jan 12, 2007 03:49 PM
I have individual salt cellars and salt spoons to set at each place. If you go looking for salt spoons be sure that the bowl of the spoon is gilded. Salt is very corrosive on silver and can pit it badly. There should be some big antique shows coming up at the fair grounds before too long. It could be nice to pick up old salt cellars and spoons individually for a unique look.
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re: IndyGirl
Candy
Jan 12, 2007 06:06 PM
I think Feb. or March they get pretty heavily advertised in the paper and on TV. There is a silver dealer in Broadripple who usually shows up and she has all sorts of old silver. They often advertise the shows in the Bloomington paper too.
Photo of salt spoon and salt cellar, sorry for the glare.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/...
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re: Quine
IndyGirl
Jan 12, 2007 03:14 PM
:) Thank you. I was scrambling before Christmas dinner for the in-laws and that was a stroke of inspiration I was happy with. BUT, like I said above, I don't want to use them for every entertaining occasion because I am too afraid that they'll get broken. They are adorable, though!
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re: jbyoga
HaagenDazs
Jan 12, 2007 01:22 PM
The only thing you can reasonably put in a salt grinder is larger grained rock salt. Smaller grained, what I would consider more gourmet-ish salt (Murray River, Fleur de Sel, Maldon) would most certainly not do well in a grinder or a shaker and even if you put it in there you'd ruin the crystals. Maldon fans would be particularly disappointed to see their large beautiful crystals/flakes crushed into powder.
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