hen it comes to food products, there's one ingredient that has profoundly affected human life-salt. Historically, salt has played vital roles in religion and even served as an important trading commodity for explorers. Salt was so appreciated that 'salt routes' were created. It was on these salt routes that merchants traveled, transporting and selling it in countries where it was not produced.

Salt can be found naturally in many parts of the world and varies in color from grey to brown to sometimes colorless. Used with foods, salt brings out natural flavors, gives added texture, and complements the many tastes of the foods we love. While perusing the aisles of the Fancy Food Show in San Diego, we stumbled upon a modern day salt merchant-a company by the name of SaltWorks, Inc. Offering gourmet sea salts, SaltWorks has covered the globe, from the Dead Sea to France, to bring you the widest possible variety. Andronico's is pleased to announce that we will carry an assortment of these tasty treasures. Alaea Hawaiian Sea Salt, Cyprus Black Lava Flake, Fleur de Sel, Fumee de Sel, Murray River, Salish and Sel Gris-it's hard to recommend any one flavor because they each have a unique taste that warrants a see-for-yourself taste test.

Here is a sampling of two: Produced naturally from underground brines in the Murray Darling Basin of Australia's Murray River, comes a light and delicate salt the color of peaches-aptly named Murray River. This flaky salt is so pretty to look at, and with its mild flavor and quick melt, this salt is ideal for baking, finishing and roasting.

Another favorite is the Fumee de Sel. Slowly smoked with Chardonnay oak wine barrels, the crystals are smoked to a light toasty brown and have a deep smoke flavor without being bitter. Enhancing just about any dish, from meat, to seafood, to breakfast, this is one versatile sea salt.