In Love With: Le Paludier Fleur De Sel de Guerande

This Le Paludier Fleur De Sel de Guerande is abso-freaking-lutely amazing on your last tomatoes warm from the garden. It's so melt in your mouth, exquisitely good, that it will make you want to lick the salt marshes of Guerande. Apparently, it's harvested according ancient Celtic methods- which resonates just a little with my little bit Scottish Celtic blood. My Mexican side likes it, too. It's taken me year to actually get some of my own, and-my friends- it's a year I will never get back. Get it at Nicole's in South Pasadena...Rock on...

Now it's time for a shameless plug:



On a side note, I was first introduced to this delicious salt when I coerced Crisi Echiverri of Providence Restaurant in Los Angeles to drag me along to a Food and Wine photo shoot at Jay Griffith's place in Malibu for a feature on a Malibu Garden Party/August Issue 2005, featuring the exquisite dishes of chef Michael Cimarusti. All because I wanted to see Jay's home garden (that was not featured on the annual fundraising Venice Garden Tour) and because I'm such a fan of his work. The pleasure was all mine as I got to meet Jay Griffith- our chemistry was intense and we are currently having a mad passionate love affair. Oh My God- just kidding!! Sheesh...just being silly and K-razy. The real truth is that I was behind the scenes helping a little to lightly prep some things (I sorted favas, helped to put together some fennel packages for the grill, plucked some perfect cilantro leaves for the prawn and shaved vegetable salad). I remember it as being a wonderful day...

Dining at Providence, by the way, was the most profound culinary experience I've ever had. Please rush your booty there-Michael Cimarusti and Paul Shoemaker and crew hook up your taste buds and your soul in a deep way...