609875 Mon Apr 06 07:47:10 -0700 2009 20 23 Ontario (including Toronto) 0 4571260 Went to Longo yesterday and notice they have jars of special salts - Himalaya Pink, Mediterrean, etc. The company is Just a Pinch. www.justapinch.ca Personally, I don't want to buy them all to try what each salt taste like (even though they have some gift packages with 4 types inside). Is there a taste test anywhere? Mon Apr 06 07:47:10 -0700 2009 267195 spoonandsoup 1 4571332 I have seen this brand at a lot of grocery and specialty food stores (from the healthy butcher to metro) but have been reluctant to try them. I know the allure of colour is tempting, but it is basically just glorifying impurities and dirt in your salt? I find all your need for cooking and seasoning is three salts. Free running iodized salt Kosher salt and Fleur De Sel for finishing dishes. but as you I tempted to know more and try them, but I don't feel the urge to drop big bucks on pink sand or 100 yr old lava in my salt, when all I want is a salt? Mon Apr 06 08:13:30 -0700 2009 4571260 85076 flying101 2 4574881 If you haven't give Maldon a try as well. Tue Apr 07 09:02:19 -0700 2009 4571332 13707 JennaBean 3 4574967 Second this suggestion. Waaay back I reported on a 'salt tasting' that a friend set up. Everybody (and I mean everybody) had Maldon salt top. It had been originally recommended to me by a chef (as a finishing salt) and I had given the hostess that particular sample on a previous visit. Tue Apr 07 09:24:39 -0700 2009 4574881 11134 estufarian 1 4571354 haven't tried these brands but the tastes of these expensive salts are wasted if you're cooking w/ them. They should really be used as finishing salts. it's not essential, but if you've got money to burn then buy them as finishing salts. Mon Apr 06 08:18:21 -0700 2009 4571260 14629 aser 1 4571418 i've been curious about these salts as well, i hope someone can share some more insight. they are definitely for finishing and not cooking. i can only say that i tried a truffle infused salt (different brand), and it was very tasty. Mon Apr 06 08:34:26 -0700 2009 4571260 21259 auberginegal 1 4571422 I haven't tried this brand, but I do enjoy using these salts for finishing. The "impurities" do lend a unique flavor. I will say that one of my favorite types of sea salt is Danish Viking salt, or alderwood smoked salt. It most definitely adds more than color. A sprinkle in a bowl of New England Clam Chowder is heaven! It brings a smoky depth of flavor wherever it's sprinkled. Mon Apr 06 08:35:57 -0700 2009 4571260 239573 choco_lab38 1 4571727 Aside from the criteria of flavour, which is most important IMO, different sea salts contain different minerals. So there is a "possible" health benefit to consuming the different salts. Aberginegal, have you tried sprinking the truffle salt on steaks? One of the guys at Cumbrae's (actually, he might be the owner), swears by it. I find it "okay" but thought I'd pass the recommendation on, nonetheless. Mon Apr 06 09:46:57 -0700 2009 4571260 83092 Apprentice 2 4573534 thanks for the suggestion Apprentice! since on occasion i get steaks from cumbrae's, maybe it'll be a better test to put the salt on one of them! truffle salt on a hard boiled egg was delish, but truffles and eggs seem to be a natural match. Mon Apr 06 19:28:50 -0700 2009 4571727 21259 auberginegal 3 4575314 softened butter and mixed in truffle salt.... roll up, slice and put on steak. yums. Tue Apr 07 10:41:58 -0700 2009 4573534 10634 pinstripeprincess 1 4571741 I was at Ashleys this past weekend and with about $50 left to spend after returning some gifts, I decided to buy some new salts as they had some interesting ones. Typically I have only ever used french sea salts for finishing, but picked up a couple interesting ones. Cypress Flake Salt - Had this at Nota Bene recently, loved it, great texture and flavour, especially on a big steak! And as another poster noted, I picked up some Alderwood smoked salt, fantastic stuff...cant wait to try this out on some new potatoes, or to finish sauces! Mon Apr 06 09:51:19 -0700 2009 4571260 156403 Sadistick 2 4576073 the spice trader at queen and bathurst (west of bathurst) carries an insane amount of salt. they let you taste them and have little notecards displaying how and when to use them. Tue Apr 07 13:39:39 -0700 2009 4571741 20735 mtampoya 3 4576084 Good call on Spice Trader. I really like that spot. Although, of all the salts I've tried I like the smoked sea salt for finishing dishes that are enhanced by a smokiness and Maldon for about everything else. Love the way it has a slight crunch and a really clean salt flavour. I've also noticed that metro is carrying specialty salts now too. They're in containers on top of the cheese cases, or at least they are in the Liberty Village location. Tue Apr 07 13:43:59 -0700 2009 4576073 18477 jamesm 4 4577851 Actually went to the Spice Trader too and saw there huge variety of salts and other spices. They have a whole chunk of Pink salt as well as gift packages. The chunk of pink salt can be shaved on as finishing touch. I tried the Himalaya Pink and it tasted pretty good, without the 'bitter' taste I get from tasting regular table salt. Wed Apr 08 07:30:25 -0700 2009 4576084 267195 spoonandsoup 5 4603861 I got a whole box of different salts from the Spice Trader for Christmas one year. I agree about the smoked sea salt for flavour, it's great. Murray River salt is also a favourite for texture - perfect on eggs. Fri Apr 17 06:51:05 -0700 2009 4577851 70075 tochipotle 1 4577694 If you live in the east end you can try going to Foody's bulk in pickering, it's a gourmet bulk store and they carry those salts but you can probably buy as much as you like and taste, they have smoked salts and all sorts of stuff, really nice. It's not far from the Rouge Hill GO station area so I'd say it's borderline Toronto/pickering. Wed Apr 08 06:08:35 -0700 2009 4571260 224081 BamiaWruz 2 4577908 Check out Selsi Sea Rocks at the SLM -lower level- for sampling. They have salts and peppercorns (sometimes fresh) from around the world and are happy to enlighten you on the products.. Wed Apr 08 07:45:52 -0700 2009 4577694 241069 DanieDines 3 4603364 +1 on DanieDines' suggestion. I've never been to this booth when the people there were not very nice and eager to educate me on different salts. They educate by giving you small samples to go along with their teachings. I buy all my specialty salts from there. Thu Apr 16 22:12:33 -0700 2009 4577908 90186 Tor.hound 1 4584740 I've bought a number of the Just a Pinch salts, and I think that the vast majority of them have been a waste of money: they're pretty, but the tastes aren't particularly distinguishable from each other (apart from the smoked salts like Salish, which I and everyone I've asked think is actually quite revolting), and for the price, simply not worth it. That being said, I must recommend their Murray River pink Australian salt. It's the most expensive (I think it even beats fleur-de-sel in terms of price per kg), but it's the first one that I've actually really enjoyed: the salt comes in these lovely, thin, flaky crystal sheets and the texture in your mouth is heavenly. I can't pass by my container of it without eating a pinch. Fri Apr 10 11:00:32 -0700 2009 4571260 75881 vorpal 1 4602007 Try the St Lawrence Market as well. Many shops sells specialty salts in bulk. Thu Apr 16 12:47:58 -0700 2009 4571260 56760 tippitoes 1 4604765 Have you tried President's Choice Finishing Salts? http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/GreatFood/ProductDetails.aspx/id/19832/name/PCFinishingSaltsCollection/catid/173 Cyprus Mediterranean, Himalayan Pink Salt, and Fleur de Sel. I found them acceptable. Fri Apr 17 11:26:06 -0700 2009 4571260 278817 Oxygen8