Soulful seasoning blends sourced from the world's best surf breaks
Here is a mega energy pasta I did for the local tri-club. With such incredible athletes in the house, I wanted something that gives you fuel but also didn't taste like cardboard. Here were a few take away points about cooking healthy AND tasty food I use a ton of citrus zest -it doesn't have [...]
Had a blast body surfing the other day in some decent hurricane swell. Using these hand planes I was able to take off in a much more critical part of the wave and angle down the face. No bottom turns here and just about lost my britches a few times. I was flying! You have [...]
A surfer chef worth his salt by Liz Biro Chef James Bain samples his Surf Salt Dockside chef James Bain is a devoted surfer, but he sees more than waves when he rides the world’s curls. Bain sees flavors, namely salt, and his visions have morphed into a line of seasoning salts that will add more than flavor [...]
Hurricane swell is showing, the line up is packed, and my freshly turned 7 year old is strapping on his leash. We walk to the water’s edge and stop for a moment. I point out a surfer taking off on a pretty good set wave and we watch as the guy rides until it closes [...]
Surf Salt is for sale on the site. Each blend comes in a tamper proof pouch and zip locks to keep fresh. Only $8. We ship anywhere and dealer inquires are welcome. More recipes and stories coming. Surf Salt makes food ONO! (Hawaiian for tasty)
TURNING FERAL …I almost went feral in a tiny village down in the heart of Mexico. Living for weeks in a grass hut, with no power, running water, or much less any form of a proper restaurant. The last thing on my mind was perfect food. After all, I was there to surf the beautiful [...]
Had a great cooking class with the local YMCA Tri-Club last night. I focused on making food taste better with out the fat and provide more energy. The "fat is flavor" mantra of French chefs is tough to follow if you are doing iron man distances (or any distance for that matter). This is one [...]
Like you need another reason to go to the YOLO Board Seaside Celebration Stand Up Paddle Race, Sept 15-18 in Florida. Already, the YOLO crew is super cool, Chuck Patterson/Niki Gregg giving clinics, racing, even a killer T-shirt. But wait… there's more… Surf Salt will make its official debut in Florida for the stand up [...]
A glimpse of my long one the other day, 4:45 a.m. start.
Need a quick box lunch caterer? The Cape Fear Chef can do it in the WIlmington, NC area. See menu below. Its Quick, Its Cheap, and It Gives You A Swift Kick of Energy….It’s… CFC BOX LUNCHES Chef James Bain offers the healthiest more affordable way to energize a group of people. Fresh, “whole food” [...]
LOST AT SEA I actually have been lost at sea for 24 hours, it was one heck of a storm that flipped my boat 10 miles out. A couple of friends and myself swam a couple of miles in after hanging on to the bottom of the boat overnight and into the next day. This [...]
FYI, This Tuesday night, I'll be sharing some nutrition and hydration recipes (see below), at Dockside Restaurant in the courtyard. Its for the YMCA tri-club, but I won't tell if you show up. Its real casual so please come by. 6:30, if you can't make it, I will post the recipes on surf-salt.com. FYI- The [...]
Here is a break down of my nutrition/hydration from the 26 mile paddle I did yesterday. In the picture below, waist camel back with tons of plain of water, plain cooked pasta, in the foil is sticky rice (sushi rice with a bit of rice vinegar and honey and bits of ham- crusted with PEAHI [...]
Last night I stumbled on a great video titled "Gunfight in the Pailolo" on StandUpZone.com. Its an unreal battle between Dave Kalama and Conner Baxter. Great conditions (from a computer anyway), great watermen, and a great race. I love the part when Conner catches up on Dave, no offence Dave. (Side Note…Dave, what I learned [...]
Can you imagine the conditions galley slaves cooked in on the ships of 17th and 18th century? I thought having an oven down on a Friday night was bad… The French, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese combed the tiny islands of the West Indies looking for mermaids, treasure, and adventure. All the while, hoping not to [...]
This recipe is from the current issue of Wrightsville Beach Magazine, enjoy! While many chefs let the temperature of the air dictate the temperature of their soups, Docksides executive chef, James Bain, waits until the perfect cold-soup ingredients are perfectly ripe, regardless of the weather. "After the ingredients have hit their peak, its all about [...]
Here is a quick fresh salad, taken to another level. The Surf Salt adds crunch, a deep sesame flavor, and makes it look stunning. An EASY dish to make you feel and eat like a chef. I use line caught yellow fin tuna and local herbs and vegetables. Here is the recipe Serves 4 20 [...]
Use it as a dip with olive oil and pita bread Add depth to rice dishes Sprinkle over cooked seasonal vegetables Add to a salad Mix with yogurt for a dip for raw vegetables Sprinkle it over deviled eggs Seasoning over pasta Use as a topping over grilled or steamed seafood (my favorite way to [...]
COOKING LESSONS WITH THE CAPE FEAR CHEF! NOW BOOKING! Edible entertainment at its finest. Perhaps you love to entertain, but don’t particularly enjoy all the preparation. Or contractors have just installed your gorgeous new kitchen, and you’d like to share the results with friends. Maybe you’re searching for an especially sublime gift idea. Whatever the [...]
Named “Best Chef” seven years in a row, James Bain’s 25-year career cooking in the Cape Fear region has not gone unnoticed. He’s enjoyed a continuous stream of regional and national press, from Wrightsville Beach Magazine to Southern Living and The New York Times. In addition, Chef Bain is a regular on “Carolina in the [...]
