Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Maldou' ou Maldon?


Well, a new year has begun and 2007 has ushered itself in. There is always something very exciting about new beginnings.
Over Christmas, I had plenty of time to relax and recall sitting down to flick through a copy of the Sainsbury's magazine. I love to thumb through any publications about food and have over the years collected probably hundreds of cuttings of recipes or related atrticles. I had picked up a copy of December's magazine because of one single page advert I had noticed for Maldon.
I was amazed to discover that Maldon originates from dreary Essex, in fact it is the sole producer of this very English export. So why was this so amazing to discover I hear you ask?
Well, ever since I have worked at a michelin stared restaurant here in Birmingham, I have heard chefs and waiters alike refer to our favourite seasoning with an air of French expression- Maldo. This had always given the impression that this superior natural salt was yet another culinary gift from our friends accross the sea. Imagine the irony (and possible audacity) to suggest that this very humble, very British product was not our own.
It is with a great deal of pleasure that when I return to work I will be able to correct my colleagues, with a little pride, as I exclaim (in a little cockney twang), "surely you mean, mate, Maldon".