Thoughts on Salt…..and Pepper

I use too much salt.  Like most people, I have adult problems that have arisen because of childhood circumstances, and more than likely, salt is one of them.  My father seldom said a cross word at the dinner table, but reach for the salt shaker, and he’d let go with a harsh word or two. (At least for him, he was the ‘thundering velvet hand’ kind of guy).

I’ve been thinking about salt lately, because the last 4 or 5 restaurants I have been in, there have been no salt and pepper shakers on the table.  This includes my burger foray into Little Bird the other day.  No salt and/or pepper shakers to be found there.  For that matter, no condiments offered at all, other than what came with our order.

So I’ve been wondering lately if chefs are trying to tell us something, which might be either 1) salt is bad for you, or 2) my food is perfectly seasoned, you better eat it the way it is.

Oh, I don’t really care, except I use salt a lot, and I’m not ashamed of it.  The heir to one of the largest steakhouse chains in the country told me salt was their secret ingredient.

But when it’s not on the table, and you don’t see any near by, I’m almost embarrassed to ask for it.  To me, it kinda feels like it would be if you asked for ketchup for your porterhouse at Mortons.

So I don’t ask.  In the case of the burger and fries at Little Bird, the food (to me) was perfectly seasoned, anyway.

The reason I was thinking about salt today, was Mrs. BurgerDogBoy (whom I love so very, very dearly) and I were cruising some shops in Sellwood, and she spotted a hamburger and hot dog salt and pepper set.  Well, actually a hamburger and hot dog pepper and pepper set, as they both had three holes.  (I know, some will argue that pepper goes in the shaker w/ one hole, well not around here).

And she bought them, knowing a) I would love them, and b) I have a monstrous collection of S & P shakers, and we have them in a rotation, take a different set out every couple of months.  

(And yes, I will accept more, please send multiple sets to me as gifts!!!!)

So here’s a pic of the ones she bought today, perched next to the current set we have out, the RCA dog ‘Nipper.”

So how do I solve the ‘no shaker’ dilemma at restaurants?  Why, I reach in my pocket and pull out crushed packets of the miracle seasoning I pilfered at my last fast food visit.  I better stock up on those, because they seem to be going the way of things vanishing from every day life.

In some fast food places now, they just have the disposable plastic salt and pepper shakers.  Well, they do until I visit, and they end up being one salt shaker short.

Collectible Salt & Pepper Shakers

Collectible Salt & Pepper Shakers

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *