"alae salt" news and stories

My friend Megan is the proprietor of Sugar Star, a baking business in Portland, Oregon that supplies tasty treats like chocolate cake with Earl Gray-infused ganache and rosewater red velvet cake to coffee shops like Fuel Cafe on Alberta Street.  One of the things she makes that I love are Salty Brownies, decadent chocolate brownies topped with chunky sea salt.

I made a batch tonight.  Just use your favorite brownie recipe (or—gasp!—a box),  and when the brownies have about four minutes left to cook, remove the almost-baked brownies and sprinkle them lightly with rock salt. (I used a half teaspoon of pink, Hawaiian alae salt.) Continue cooking for the remaining four minutes of baking time. Remove from oven and serve as usual. The salt really makes the chocolate flavor pop. They are always a hit at parties. I'll never make brownies any other way.

[photo: Stefania Pomponi Butler]

When Stefania Butler came back from Hawaii, she brought me a present. It was small, heavy, and sparkled. It came from Amy's Fish Market. And as soon as I saw it, I knew I'd love it.

I'd read raves from both Stefania and another foodie I admire, Karina Longworth. The St. Petersburg Times called it a good finish for mashed potatoes. No one had to tell me twice three times. I was sold.

So I started out with a little on potatoes. And a bit on steamed vegetables. Yum, double salty yum! Soon I was sprinkling the pink stuff on everything from avocadoes (straight up) to steak (with a pat of butter).