Like many gourmands with a sweet tooth I'm strangely drawn toward candies that mix salt and sugar. I assume the reason that some crave what at first seems like an odd combination is because both components satisfy primal nutritional urges that are hardwired into our brains.When it comes to candy bars, the pinnacle of salty-sweet perfection is Payday. I'm not sure why, but as a kid, I never tried one. Looking back it seems especially strange, since I loved eating Lawry's seasoned salt out of hand. These days Payday's amalgam of salty peanuts mashed together with caramel is just the thing to satisfiy my sweet and savory teeth. In the same vein, though perhaps a bit more intense, is Pulparindo. This chewy Mexican confection is not for everyone, but it hits my palate in all the right places, combining sour tamarind with sugar and chile pepper.
But when I'm feeling especially decadent and craving something salty and sweet I forgo candy bars. Instead, I whip up some chocolate bruschetta. Simply cut small pieces of bread as you would for bruschetta; top each with a small chunk of good dark chocolate; and toast until the chocolate melts, but hasn't lost its shape. Take them out, and finish each with a sprinkle of fleur de sel. In case anyone's wondering, I've yet to try chocolate-covered potato chips, but they're on my short list.
Somehow between the excitement of Chinese New Year and the Winter Olympics I managed to miss this one. In addition to
being the Year of the Dog, 2006 has been dubbed the Year of the Chile Pepper by the National Garden Bureau. I'm glad the
organization has seen fit to recognize the hot pepper as its Vegetable of the Year, but as far as I'm concerned, I
devote every tear, er year, of my life to the piquant little devils. That said, the NGB has gathered a lot of
great growing tips and history, including the fact both Washington and Jefferson grew cayennes. 
What Can I Get You Folks? - Server Revenge
Reality-Show Celebrities Serve Up Chef Curtis Stone's 'Hundred-Dollar Burger'
Foods Celebrity Chefs Hate
