Comments on: Dietribes: Salt

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:56:22 +0000

In regards to adding salt to food, the theory is that you shouldn’t have to add salt at the table because the chef should have seasoned adequately during the cooking process, not that there shouldn’t be salt used. I almost never salt at the table, except sometimes french fries and breakfast eggs.

By: Julie Germain

Julie Germain — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:44:11 +0000

It should be mentioned in a story about salt that salt used to be traded pound for pound for gold – back when nomads carried huge slabs of salt across the Sahara desert on the backs of camels – also back when Timbuktu was a thriving city at the crossroads of these trade routes.

By: heather

heather — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:10:28 +0000

It’s wild to think that the most vital substance used in ancient societies is a rock. Especially now since it’s a rock that we consider commonplace.

A few months ago, my family switched to sea salt in our cooking because I’d read that it contains more minerals that the body needs that iodized salt does. I’m not sure if that’s true, but i do know that we don’t have to use as much since it has a stronger flavor.

By: Laura M.

Laura M. — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:35:54 +0000

Try reading “Salt” by Mark Kurlansky to learn about salt’s role in the history of the world. It’s seriously fascinating.

By: Jess

Jess — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:11:44 +0000

I refuse to add extra salt to my meals, but my boyfriend adds salt to EVERYTHING. It drives me nuts. I tried to wean him off of it by introducing pepper as a healthier way to add flavor, but he just started sprinkling both on his food. Gah!

By: AMR

AMR — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:11:51 +0000

Sifto Salt has a mine (I believe the largest salt mine in the world) in Goderich, Ontario. The Sifto underworld is about one and one half miles wide and extends 2 miles under Lake Huron. (!!) Unfortunately I don’t think they give tours – they even turned down the curious Queen Elizabeth II when she visited.

By: PeteRepeat42

PeteRepeat42 — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:06:33 +0000

I only like salt on my roads, and not in my meals. Many (good) chefs agree: adding salt to enhance flavor only means the meal is bland and the chef was bad.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:49:10 +0000

I’ve been fortunate to have been to two salt mines on two seperate trips to Europe.

The first was an old mine just outside of Salzburg, Austria. It’s very interesting (to me) to see the wealth it brought to such a wonderful city.

The second was this past summer in Halstatt, Austria. It is one of the world’s oldest salt mines. Because of the wealth and importance of this mine the town gave birth to an era called the Hallstatt (from the eighth century to the fifth century BC).

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:49:27 +0000

Funny that the photo at the top of the page should include Tabasco. The place where that brand of hot sauce is made, Avery Island, is actually a huge dome of rock salt, three miles long and two and a half miles wide. The salt dome has been used by centuries, first by Native Americans, then in Civil War when it was the only reliable source of salt for Confederate troops. Today, Cargill operates the mine, but it will likely close in 50 years or less because it will no longer be safe to mine the salt.

Along with the salt dome, Avery Island, which is located southeast of Lafayette, is home to an incredible bird and wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary features a shrine holding a centuries-old Buddha, imported by the McIlhenny family (makers of Tabasco) long before it would have been considered politically incorrect to do so. The sanctuary and the Tabasco plants are open for tours.

(I don’t work for Avery Island or Tabasco, I just think the island is an incredible place).

By: ziggy

ziggy — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:03:37 +0000

to further embelish Els’comment the mine in Poland is not just an ordinary salt mine. Down several levels in the mine there is a fully carved cathedral, complete with alter, statuary, 30ft ceilings adorned with salt chandeliers…they used to have regular church services for the miners, then later used the open areas for ballroom dancing and entertainment..now some areas are used for medicinal purposes..I’ve never been but would certainly spend the pittence to go…a great read is Mark Kurlansky’s book..”Salt”