Surf Salt in the Galley

Todos Santos Surf Salt

Todos Santos Surf Salt- A natural paradise teeming with sea life in its abundant bays and shallows, the Baja Peninsula boasts its own special sea salt. Its smokey flavor takes you on a trip down south, potholes and all. Todos Santos Surf salt combines the smoke with a little fire for a perfect finish for meat, seafood, and vegetables. Ingredients- Almonds, Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs, Honey Granules, Smoked Paprika, Mild Chile Flakes, Tomato Powder, Lime Juice Powder, Basil Seed, Smoked Baja Sea Salt

Chiba Surf Salt – Gluten Free

Chiba Surf Salt – Gluten Free- Consistent, powerful beach breaks and thundering reefs make this area a mecca among surfers in Japan when typhoons roll through. Just offshore, se salt is harvested and infused with pickled plums to create tangy pink sea salt. This gluten free mix combines green mango powder, sesame and cane sugar to make a Surf Salt that coats seafood, vegetables, stir fry and salads with equal success. Ingredients- Almonds, Sesame Seed, Green Mango Powder, Ground Jasmine Rice, Meyer Lemon Peel, Cane Sugar, Lime powder, Aleppo Pepper, Basil Seed, Japanese Plum Salt

The Grommet Surf Salt

Grommet – adj. – a term used to describe a young participant in extreme sports. The term originally was used in the sport of surfing for anyone under the age of 16. However in recent years, the term has been expanded to include other extreme sports, most notably skateboarding and snowboarding. Surf Salt creates a stoke for “groms” of all ages. Try on those “yuck-y” foods like anything green, meat on a stick, or something fishy. Shaka Groms! Ingredients Almonds, Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs, Basil Seed, Dried Honey, Sea Salt

Peahi (Jaws) Surf Salt

Peahi (Jaws) Surf Salt- Native Hawaiians used Alaea sea salt in cleansing and healing ceremonies. After riding the giant waves of Peahi, surfers need all the healing they can get! The salt’s deep red color comes from the Alaea clay which is introduced in the harvesting process. Peahi Surf Salt joins Alaea sea salt with tropical citrus flavors to create a blend that is good on steak as it is seafood. Ingredients- Almonds, Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs, Honey Granules, Sweet Bell Pepper Flakes, Alaea Sea Salt, Basil Seed, Dried Orange Peel, Lemon Juice Powder, Orange Oil

Waikiki Surf Salt

Waikiki Surf Salt- Once the playground for Hawaiian royals, Waikiki is where the Duke taught “haoles” how to surf. Just around the corner from this famous spot, Hawi Kai sea salt is harvested in classic, native style-solar evaporated and purified with activated charcoal. Its ocean fresh flavor makes Waikiki Surf Salt a subtle, delicious compliment to meat, seafood, and vegetables. Ingredients- Almonds, Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs, Honey Granules, Sesame Seeds, Dry Edamame, Lime Juice Powder, Basil Seed, Hawi Kai Sea Salt

Kirra Surf Salt

Kirra Surf Salt- Crikey mate! One of Australia’s most legendary waves, Kirra is not far from the source of the unique Murray Darling finishing salt. The salt’s lovely pink color is derived from carotene produced by algae in an underground brine. Kirra Surf Salt combines this pink salt with the essences of tomato and sweet red pepper to create a seasoning blend for fresh vegetables, pasta, chicken, and beef. Ingredients-Almonds, Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs, Honey Granules, Tomato Powder, Sweet Bell Pepper Flakes, Black Sesame Seeds, Lemon Juice Powder, Grains of Paradise, Basil Seed, Murray Darling Salt

How to Use Surf Salt

1) The ingredient is cooked or prepared. So that means anything you like to eat and which makes you feel good. With the quality of meats and closer proximity and accessability to farmers markets there is no need to kill the flavor of your foods with heavy marinades, infusions, or harsh spice blends. Surf Salt allows you to taste your food again.

2) Squeeze of acid. As a chef and a waterman, I love to add lots of flavor with little fat. Lemon, orange juice, splash of good quality balsamic all really raise the flavor of your food and the acid in the juice helps cut through the fat. Give me a lime tree, a fish filled lagoon, and Surf Salt on a desert island. There will be no need to send the search boat (Although I’m grateful for family, friends, and the Coast Guard for searching for me when I was lost at sea-true story)

3) Sprinkle with surf salt. Remember this isn’t just sea salt. Each surf break (or blend) has its own unique flavor and ingredients. You can use up to a tablespoon per portion. Here chefs would say we are layering flavor in our food. Not one big hunk of something that tastes the same in every bite. Each bite has something going on. Also think of these as flavors, Todos Santos (used in the video) is smoky sweet, Pehai is citrusy, Kirra is tangy tomato, and Waikiki is sesame/nutty. So really they can be interchangeable with the same main ingredient.

4) Add freshness. Use fresh herbs at the end of your cooking. A little pot of cilantro (used here), basil, mint, and/or parsley in your kitchen window will instantly make you a better cook, lose weight, and give you a connection back to mother earth. I usually leave leaves (and stems) in big pieces, if you chop the heck out of them with a knife, you loose all their flavor.

5) Eat, enjoy family and friends, and get in the ocean! Having great food with family and friends is one of life’s pleasures. Especially after a day at the beach- surfing, paddling, fishing, or whatever. Surf Salt gives your food tons of flavor without a lot of prep time and stress. One entertaining idea is to put 3 or 4 different flavors of Surf Salt on the dinner table and let guests mix and match their own. Its a fun way to eat. Enjoy and hope to see you in the water!