26
FOOD
Making flavour
extraordinary
This is a look at the cookbook Sea
Salt, A Perfectly Seasoned Cookbook,
by the Lea-Wilson family of Halen Môn.
GIVEAWAY
We have one copy of the
cookbook Sea Salt to giveaway.
Just send an email with the
subject line Salty Tales to:
info@desang.net
For 20 years the Lea-Wilson
family have been making
award-winning Halen Môn sea
salt, as used by famous chefs
and restaurants all over the globe. It
was hailed by publisher Conde Nast
as the 'best in the world'. The family
recently worked with chef Anna
Shepherd and photographers Liz and
Max Haarala Hamilton to publish a
collection of recipes celebrating this
often misunderstood (and misused)
ingredient. This book celebrates one
of the most important ingredients in
your kitchen.
Learning to season food properly
is arguably what separates a good
cook from a great one. It isn't a
simple case of how much is added
but also when seasalt crystals are
used: at the beginning of meal prep
to help sunny tomatoes sing; coating
your meat just before cooking to help
the salty char form and the meat
stay juicy; or right at the very end,
scattered over a chocolate torte to
make it all the more chocolate-y.
Brine, cure and pickle your way
through this book, learning to use
salt in new ways to make everyday
food more vibrant and flavourful.
From a sophisticated fennel and
almond lasagne to toasted milk
cookies, delicate salt marsh lamb
to juicy black pepper brined corn,
this book brings new techniques
and a breath of fresh inspiration to
your plate. With every bit as much
attention paid to vegetables and
sweet dishes, as well as meat and
fish. All accompanied by beautiful
photography, shot on location on the
wild island of Anglesey where the
family business is based.
Salty tales
The Lea-Wilson's lives have centred
around sea salt - making it,
perfecting it and travelling the world
selling it - for more than 20 years.
They made their first batch from the
sparkling seas around Anglesey, an
island off the North Wales coast, in a
saucepan on an old Aga back in 1997,
at which point Halen Môn (Anglesey
Salt), was born.
Nowadays, their pans may be
a little bigger, but their ethos and
provenance remain the same. Their
commitment to the craft has earned
them Protected Designation of Origin
status.
They supply home cooks as well
as Michelin-starred chefs the world
over. They have seasoned Barack
Obama's favourite caramels and are
a named ingredient in a variety of
products from Pipers Crisps to Green
& Black's chocolate. It is a love of
both the island of Anglesey and the
pleasure of good food that spurs the
family on to continue to expand the
range of award-winning, flavourful
condiments and seasonings.
Sea Salt by the Lea-Wilson family,
£26 White Lion Publishing.
www.halenmon.com
Sea Salt cookbook,
cofounder, Alison Lea-Wilson.
Sea Salt cookbook, cofounder, David
Lea-Wilson and son Hamish