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A Few Words on Salt

1/28/2023

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Salt, that treasured and ubiquitous seasoning, has played a life-sustaining role in human history for hundreds of centuries. From ancient civilizations using it as a food preserver and currency, to modern chefs adding it to their dishes to intensify the flavors, salt has been a constant companion on our culinary journey. But, as the great MFK Fisher once wrote, "the pleasures of the table, and of life, are infinite - touch one, and you find it attached to the rest." And so it is with salt - its story is entwined with trade, preservation, and culture.
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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.
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A pretty good hamburger, from Phyllis' Giant Hamburgers....

6/12/2021

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Ceviche. So, we bought some fish the other day....

4/6/2021

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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!
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Street Tacos at the Lagunitas Grocery Store are authentic and delicious!

9/22/2019

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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!
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Lagunitas Depot, 1900's - (c) Marin History Museum
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Il Davide Restaurant, the best Italian restaurant in the SF Bay Area

9/22/2019

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Here is our review of lunch at Il Davide Restaurant, in San Rafael, CA. We've had the pleasure of eating at this popular restaurant many times over the years, and now through our Rubbo's Gourmet Kitchen YouTube channel, we are able to share with our viewers the fantastic experience of dining here. Click her to visit Il Davide Restaurant's website.

If you like what you see, please subscribe to our YouTube channel, and click the notification button so that you’ll be notified of all of our new videos!
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Hamburgers - RubboStyle!

9/7/2019

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Next video: Our Lunch at Il Davide Restaurant

8/21/2019

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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.
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Lentil soup - vegan - Rubbo-style

8/10/2019

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For our recipe series, my dear friend Marilyn (one of our first subscribers!) asked us to create food videos with vegetarian and vegan recipes, so Donald and I cooked up this delicious, filling, nutritious and amazing vegan lentil soup, and we are delighted to share our recipe with you!
 
Thank you, Marilyn!
 
As our channel grows, we will be sharing many of our favorite recipes, including numerous vegetarian and vegan meals.
  
Donald and I cook intuitively, by inspiration and taste, our measurements are by eye, we decide how much of an ingredient to put in as we are cooking, so the measurements in our recipes are approximate. A little bit more of one ingredient, or a little bit less of another, we leave to your preferences.

We've included a secret technique that adds more flavor and freshness to your cooking, let us know your results when you use this secret tip in your cooking!

Click here to watch the Lentil Soup - Vegan -video!
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THe best pho in the bay area!

8/10/2019

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This short video, The Best Pho in the San Francisco Bay Area! highlights two of our favorite spots in San Francisco, the historic Golden Gate Park and a family-run Vietnamese restaurant on Clement Street, near the Park, that has the best pho in the Bay Area.

​We’ll do a longer review of this restaurant, Thanh Thanh Café, with an interview of the owner, in a future video.  

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Rubbo's Gourmet Kitchen!

8/10/2019

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​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.
 
Please share these videos with other foodies, and post them on your social media sites!
 
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!
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    Donald & Cheryl Lynne

    We are passionate about food, and preparing food with love and the finest of seasonings!

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Donald@RubboSaltShop.com

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To share the joy of cooking memorable meals with all cooks - family chefs and professionals alike -  with flavorful, healthy and additive-free food seasonings.
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  • Home
  • Rubbo Shop
  • Kitchen
    • Roasted Vegetables
    • A5 Wagyu Beef
    • Lamb Chops
    • Chai Spiced Tea
    • Blog on Food
  • About
    • Herbs and Salt >
      • Salt Facts
      • Table Salt vs Sea Salt