Would you pay $36 for a block of salt?
I’ll admit to a twinge of expensive-thing-I-don’t-really-need lust when I saw this $36 pink Himalayan salt tablet at Cook’s Warehouse in Ansley Mall. It is as beautiful as marble, and it retains temperature well. So you could either chill it and serve cold appetizers (that don’t mind a little excess salt flavor) on it, or heat it in the oven or on a grill over an open flame. You can sear items right on it, then use the salt as a serving dish.
The only worrysome thing: a caveat on the box that warns of natural flaws that might cause the salt block to break suddenly.
Well, that and the price…
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20 comments Add your comment
Tweets that mention Would you buy a $36 block of salt? | Food and More with John Kessler -- Topsy.com
July 13th, 2010
2:53 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajcdinecritic, John Kessler. John Kessler said: Would you pay $36 for a block of salt? http://bit.ly/cB5oGK [...]
Salty Dog
July 13th, 2010
3:00 pm
No, I would not and neither should you.
Salty Dog
July 13th, 2010
3:05 pm
Well, maybe if it were the last block of salt on earth. But it isn’t. It probably doesn’t even contain essential iodine. You can buy salt conveniently granulated in a nice, cylindrical box for less than a quarter.
bbb
July 13th, 2010
3:12 pm
these are neat at restaurants but who would use this enough at home to justify the price? I have crumbled himalayan salt but i bought that off ebay as I am a cheapo.
Reds
July 13th, 2010
3:22 pm
No…. but it sure is pretty.
Puerquito
July 13th, 2010
3:37 pm
I went to a restaurant that had a few of them on display – they looked beautiful. However, like salt does, it attracts humidity so you end up with a pool of water underneath the salt if the environment is too moist – not a pretty sight.
lp
July 13th, 2010
3:43 pm
We have two of these and use them quite often for entertaining. We cube up sushi grade tuna and salmon and our guests use chopsticks to cook their fish on the salt block. It gives a nice flavor to the fish. I’ve used each salt block 10 times and have not had any problems with cracking or anything. Instructions come with the salt block for heating and cleaning. Do not use water on it! Try it – your friends will love it!
Stephanie
July 13th, 2010
3:56 pm
Not a block that big. You can buy smaller blocks at Star Provisions that are more appropriate for home cooking. Get yourself a microplane grater and you’re in business!
reservoirDAWG
July 13th, 2010
4:06 pm
No.
David S
July 13th, 2010
4:12 pm
$36 for this block to be mined, carefully cut (must account for loss due to poor cuts on other blocks), and then packaged and transported to the US for sale all the way from the Himilayas. Plus, according to everything I have read about this type of salt it is probably the best you can eat for your health. Sounds like a deal. The US government is currently throwing away about a million dollars a minute on two wars that are doing us absolutely no good whatsoever. Now there is something I would not freely pay for.
I paid about that much for a giant chunk of this salt with a lightbulb in it that currently runs in my bedroom. Gives off great warm light and energy.
Remember the pet rock? Its all in the eye of the beholder.
Cadcom
July 13th, 2010
4:14 pm
Dude, would you be interested in some beach front property in Utah?
BW
July 13th, 2010
4:16 pm
I once saw a turtle and rhino fight over a toothpick.
SP
July 13th, 2010
4:49 pm
If I were to splurge on exotic salt, I prefer the Hawaiian black (lava) sea salt. It’ll run you between $8 and $20. Still pricey just not $36 pricey.
Westside Resident
July 13th, 2010
4:50 pm
I love the class warfare that breaks out every time JK reviews an upscale restaurant or luxury item like this. Clearly, a $36 block of salt is not a good purchase for the consumer who is struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. For the consumer who has disposable income, why not? If I so chose to spend my $36 on this block of salt because I find the utility of it exceeds the alternative uses for that $36, why is that a bad thing? A year ago when I was eyeball deep in debt, would this have been a good purchase? No. Today, when I’m nearly debt free and generate cash in excess of my needs even after a considerable contribution to charity and personal savings? Sure – buy the pink salt and have fun talking about it at the next cocktail party. Just because something isn’t for everyone it doesn’t mean it isn’t for some. Keep up the good work JK!
Thanks Westside
July 13th, 2010
11:19 pm
Thanks for you post Westside Resident. I always hate it when people blog on and on about whether something is worth a certain price or whether a certain restaurant is overpriced. Just like you said… it is worth it to some people, not to others.
yael
July 14th, 2010
2:51 am
hey, the price is great. a friend of mine just bought 3 small walnut size] pieces + grater for her husband. paid CDN15 + tax in Levis, Quebec.
need to check if they ship.
1164mgc
July 14th, 2010
10:37 am
Seems like a fad to me. I wouldn’t buy it, but I’m not averse to trying one in a restaurant.
jimmy
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Doesn’t seem too bad. I spend more on that on blow on a weeknight.
virginia willis
July 20th, 2010
10:40 am
I’ve cooked with these, eaten from these. It may break – but it may not and is reasuable.
They can be used as serving trays, too. $36 is not overly expensive for a platter and that may break, too. It’s cool. I’m glad CW has brought them to ATL.
Salty Dog
July 20th, 2010
3:31 pm
Why would I buy this when I can just pour table salt right out of the cardboard cylinder onto my steak-ums?