Searing on Salt

That pink slab on my grill may look like a piece of marble or granite but it is actually SALT!

Yep!  A thick hunk of Himalayan Pink Salt.  When heated, this brick of salt will "grill" food. The salt is slowly heated on the stove top, in the oven or on a grill.  

When the correct temperature was reached, I moved the salt block to the picnic table.  Be careful...it is EXTREMELY HOT! 

 I had shrimp, scallops, calamari steaks and some thinly sliced vegetables to grill.  No need to season the raw food, the salt block will do that for you.  The raw food sizzles and sears on the hot salt and is fully cooked in a matter of minutes.

Our first attempt at cooking on a salt block was a success.  We stayed with seafood and veggies.  The food was seasoned perfectly by the salt block and a squirt of lime added just enough fresh zest.  This is a really fun way to cook and would be a perfect way to involve guests at a party.  Have them select and cook their own appetizers.  

When the cooking was completed, the salt block retained some food residuals.  I dampened a Scotch-Brite green cleaner pad and scrubbed the surface.  Allow the salt block to dry for at least 24 hours before reusing.  Do not submerge the salt block in water!  

I'm planning my next salt block meal of thin beef strips and asparagus.  What would you try?

Made In Detroit

The Sunday NY Times Style section featured an article about Shinola, a new Detroit design company opening a flagship store in the TriBeCa area of New York City this week.  The name Shinola comes from a American shoe polish company but the current designs from Shinola are watches, bicycles, leather goods and journals.

I didn't have to travel to NY City to visit Shinola.  Saturday, hubby and I drove into Detroit (about 30 minutes away) and visited the Shinola showroom there.

The collection was artfully displayed.

The back wall of the showroom has a display of bike parts in various colors.  Bikes are custom made in the shop.

The watches have achieved a cult status and the demand has made supply very limited.

The watches are assembled in Detroit.

Our day in Detroit included a visit to the Corktown section of the city and lunch at Slows Bar BQ.  

I've heard about Slows many times and the accolades it receives are well deserved.  The smoked meats were tender, flavorful and smokey good.  Generous portions and great side dishes.

The meats are smoked with dry rubs and you have your choice of sauces, ranging from sweet to hot.  My favorite was the pulled pork with the NC sauce, a vinegary sauce favored in North Carolina bar bq.  The seasonal flavor was pineapple-habanero.  

Just a few doors away from Slows is Astro Coffee.  A great cup of coffee in an eclectic, fun, neighborhood coffee shop.  They have a small selection of baked goods and lunch menu. The cafe features a great communal table for eating, surfing the web or hanging out with friends.

With all the bad news about Detroit last week, it is nice to know that there are a few bright spots in such a troubled city.  Best wishes Detroit!