Noirmoutier Fleur de Sel in Cork Top Jar

• $49.99
• Taylor's Market

My favorite finishing salt in my absolute favorite jar. It took me years to find this jar again.

Many years ago I read about Fleur de Sel being the finest, most expensive salt available, and the only one that good chefs allow on their food. I also read that it was harvested by hand, skimmed from the top of salt water marshes in Guerande, Normandy. There was a picture too, of a male model (or so it looked) carefully raking up the salt in his bare feet.

So I ran around downtown until I found a small bag of the stuff at what used to be Balducci's, and I inspected. Sure enough, the slightly wet, grey crystals smelled like a rich, salty sea and exploded with salty flavor when they hit your tongue. We know of no salt that compares to this one. It will simply transform your eating experience. Today, you can find Fleur de Sel all over town, but watch out for imitations.