Here's a little known fact: the word "salary" comes from the Latin word "salarium," which was a payment made to Roman soldiers in the form of salt. Yes, that's right - in ancient times, salt was so valuable that it was used as a form of currency. In fact, the maxim “not worth his salt” described a soldier who was not valuable or useful.
 
Salt wasn't just valuable in ancient times for its monetary worth - it also played a crucial role in food preservation, and it was used for this purpose all around the world, until the advent of refrigeration. It’s not known definitively exactly when people started using salt to preserve food, but the life-sustaining preservative properties of salt led to the development of trade routes, as people began to transport salt from one place to another to preserve their food. Salt-cured meats and fish were staples of seafaring and traveling people, and allowed them to safely travel long distances.
 
And let's not forget about the flavor aspect of salt. A sprinkle of salt can instantly transform a dish from bland to delicious. Salt enhances and intensifies the natural flavors of food, and can even make sweet things taste sweeter. Salting meat helps to break down the fibers, making it tender and juicy. Coarse sea salt is great for finishing dishes, adding a crunchy texture and strong salt flavor. Fine sea salt is good for baking and everyday cooking, as it dissolves easily.
 
And what about that age-old debate about the "right" kind of salt to use? We recommend hand-harvested sea salt, for its ‘made in nature’ characteristic, its purity and provable provenance. Most salt used by chefs and home cooks is table salt, which goes through a long, mechanized process to reach its final form. Many processed salts have additives, such as anti-caking agents, fluoride, and dextrose, so if you still don’t want to switch to additive-free sea salt, be sure to check the back labels of table salt for the list of additives.  
 
Perhaps the most interesting thing about salt is the way it has shaped cultures through the centuries. From the salt mines of ancient China to the salt pans of the Mediterranean, salt production has been a driving force behind the development of entire civilizations. In some cultures, salt is even considered sacred – as the Bible states in Leviticus 2:13, ‘Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.’
 
A grain of salt may be a small thing, but it has had an outsized impact on human history. From trade to preservation to flavor, salt has played a vital role in our past and continues to do so in our present. As Samin Nosrat wrote, in Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking: “The three basic decisions involving salt are: When? How much? In what form?”
 
So next time you reach for that salt shaker, take a moment to appreciate the rich history and cultural significance of this humble seasoning.

We were at United Market, San Rafael, a few days ago, and saw some fresh fish that looked really good. We bought small pieces of halibut, sea bass and petrale sole, a mango and some limes.
Donald cut the fish and mango into small pieces, and marinated it with lime juice. He added Rubbo Salt, salsa cruda and chopped cilantro.
Several hours later, we made a salad with tomatoes and avocado, and piled the ceviche on top.

It was the most delicious ceviche we've ever eaten!

Lagunitas Grocery & Deli, 7290 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Lagunitas, CA, is now serving Street Tacos!!! as good as the ones we had with Rose Lee Patron when we visited her, and she took us to the taco stands on the zocalo of the tiny town of Santa Cruz, Mexico. 

My favorite small town store has a new owner Loring Jones, who is doing awesome things with the food offerings. 

I grew up at the top of Alta Road, and the Lagunitas Store is very dear to my heart. Cliff ran the place in the 1960's/1970's, and he loved the Valley kids, he was always kind to us.

I am so happy that this store is still going strong, and Loring Jones has plans for his store to get even better!

For our next Rubbo's Gourmet Kitchen video, we will be reviewing our recent lunch at Il Davide Restaurant, in San Rafael, California, one of the premier Italian restaurants in the Bay Area. We sat in the sun-drenched main room of this popular restaurant, and ordered a Cesare salad, Torta di Porri and Snapper Piccata Insalata.

Our review will be uploaded soon! Subscribe now to be notified when we post new videos! Click here to subscribe.

​Donald and I are excited to bring you this Youtube food channel, Rubbos Gourmet Kitchen, sponsored by our business, Rubbo Salt Shop.
 
Rubbo Salt just makes everything taste better.
 
Donald and I are passionate about good food, good cooks, great chefs and inspiring recipes. We are delighted to share our love of the culinary arts, and the region we live in, with you our viewers.
 
We’ll be sharing our recipes with you, reviewing local restaurants, interviewing local chefs, visiting farmers markets, and going on drives to the most exquisite parts of the San Francisco Bay Area.
 
Join us on this culinary adventure, as we explore the hidden gems in the towns and along the back roads of the San Francisco Bay Area, and beyond.
 
We are designing these videos to enhance your culinary experience, and whet your appetite for the local sites, restaurants, gourmet food shops and farmers markets.
 
If you like what you see, please subscribe, and click the notification button so that you’ll be notified of all of our new videos.
 
Please leave your comments and suggestions below, and we’ll do our best to make this channel a sweet, savory and mouthwatering experience for all of our viewers.
 
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Remember, Rubbo Salt makes everything taste better. Simply the finest culinary salt in the world.  
 
We thank you for watching our Rubbos Gourmet Kitchen food, travel and review videos!