SALT FIRE WATER with Jacobsen Salt Co and Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan

Ben Jacobsen has a big heart that wants to share deliciousness with anyone he can. First, he created the incredible finishing salts that are the products Jacobsen Salt Co  and which elevate food all over the world. He brought artisan salt to the attention of the US chefs and American consumers. For that, we already owe him a great debt. Once you taste the hand harvested pure flake sea salt from the Oregon Coast, and all the possible flavors infused in salt, you can never look back.
The incredible finishing salts that are the products of Ben Jacobsen and Jacobsen Salt Co and which elevate food all over the world. The incredible finishing salts that are the products of Ben Jacobsen and Jacobsen Salt Co and which elevate food all over the world. The incredible finishing salts that are the products of Ben Jacobsen and Jacobsen Salt Co and which elevate food all over the world. The incredible finishing salts that are the products of Ben Jacobsen and Jacobsen Salt Co and which elevate food all over the world.

It’s like that point in your childhood that you step up from American cheese to real cheese. Suddenly, this whole world you can’t believe you were missing out on has been opened up to you, full of so much possibility. Thank goodness he had the patience and fortitude to work through the messy experimental two years to figure out how to harvest salt (the first since Lewis and Clark to harvest it in the Northwest in the 1800s!) and sampling up and down the coast to find the best sea area (Netarts Bay).

Now probably the most famous artisan salt producer in the United States, Ben didn’t stop there. With the old original salt trailer, he dreamed of salvaging it to create a communal table that people would gather warmly like a family to celebrate good food, good drink, and community. Partnering with Williams-Sonoma Open Kitchen (who believed in his salts to bring it from a Northwest secret to a national offering) and with Ingredient Sponsor New Seasons Market (they were the first to turn his hobby into a business by ordering his salt), thus was born the Jacobsen Salt Co.’s SALT FIRE WATER series. The original pallet is indeed part of the table we gather at (it’s the lighter brown wood in the middle below).
The dining table inside Jacobsen Salt Co. headquarters for the Salt Fire Water dinner series. The middle light brown portion is the original old original salt trailer he used when he first started. Ben Jacobsen dreamed of salvaging it to create a communal table that people would gather warmly like a family and enjoy incredible food - thus the Salt Fire Water dinner series The dining table inside Jacobsen Salt Co. headquarters for the Salt Fire Water dinner series. The middle light brown portion is the original old original salt trailer he used when he first started. Ben Jacobsen dreamed of salvaging it to create a communal table that people would gather warmly like a family and enjoy incredible food - thus the Salt Fire Water dinner series

I attended the third dinner of the 2015 series, which once again paired a Visiting Chef from another city with a local Portland Chef. The first dinner in April featured Chefs Nick Balla and Cortney Burns of Bar Tartine  San Francisco + local Chefs Greg and Gabi Denton of Ox to work together to create a shared experience while still maintaining their distinctive food perspectives – similar to what this third dinner was.  Then the second one in May was a PDX locals collaboration with Chef Jaret Foster of Foster’s Craft Cooking and Chef Kristen Murray of MÅURICE. They joined forces to create a Calcotada Dinner – a Catalonian celebration of the Calcot, a very special variety of onion that is fire-roasted, dipped in romesco sauce and eaten with one’s hands. You can see more incredible photos of this dinner experience at fellow blogger Aubrie at Portland Oregon Food Photographer , and Meredith blogging at Martha Chartreuse.

My dinner brought together Ivan Orkin of Ivan Ramen of New York and Japan  (his first time in Portland! Come back again please!) and the man behind the hard to get into (reservations are out at November) worst kept “secret” restaurant in Portland, Earl Nissom of Lang Baan.
The table setting for the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented Williams Sonoma and New Seasons The table setting for the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented Williams Sonoma and New Seasons

Wines were poured from Brooks Winery throughout the evening.
Wines provided by Brooks Winery for the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Wines provided by Brooks Winery for the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Wines provided by Brooks Winery for the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons

And now, the recap of the Salt Fire Water dinner with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan:
The menu for the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Wines provided by Brooks Winery for the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons

First course

We started with a First course of passed hors d’oeuvres while all the guests trickled in and mingled together.
The mingling of guests while enjoying a glass of Brooks Winery white during the First course of passed hors d'oeuvres at the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan The mingling of guests while enjoying a glass of Brooks Winery white during the First course of passed hors d'oeuvres at the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan The mingling of guests while enjoying a glass of Brooks Winery white during the First course of passed hors d'oeuvres at the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan The mingling of guests while enjoying a glass of Brooks Winery white during the First course of passed hors d'oeuvres at the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan

Those Bites included this Braised Beef Tongue with Dashi + Beef Broth and Scallion by Ivan Ramen. This is a house specialty that he serves at the Ivan Ramen location dinner menu at 25 Clinton in New York, and for this event he served it in shot glasses. It’s probably a lot more convenient to eat in a bowl then as an appetizer like this as I tried to shake the beef from the bottom.
Braised Beef Tongue with Dashi + Beef Broth and Scallion by Ivan Ramen for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Braised Beef Tongue with Dashi + Beef Broth and Scallion by Ivan Ramen for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons

The Daikon XO with Dried Shrimp and Scallop Chili Oil by Ivan Ramen is also available as a starter at the Ivan Ramen location for both lunch and dinner – you should definitely keep that in mind if you visit NY because I probably could have enjoyed a dozen spoons of these.
Daikon XO with Dried Shrimp and Scallop Chili Oil by Ivan Ramen for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Daikon XO with Dried Shrimp and Scallop Chili Oil by Ivan Ramen for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons

Lang Baan’s Earl Nissom’s spoon was Sweet Sticky Rice with Sun-dried Mud Fish, Fried Shallot, Kaffir Lime. This is a prefect representation of Thai food with it’s balance of bold flavors of salty, sweet, savory, sour, a little funky… all together in one bite.
Sweet Sticky Rice with Sun-dried Mud Fish, Fried Shallot, Kaffir Lime by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Sweet Sticky Rice with Sun-dried Mud Fish, Fried Shallot, Kaffir Lime by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons

Next from Lang Baan was Salt-baked Red Tilapia with Rice Noodles, Little Gem Lettuces and Dill.
Salt-baked Red Tilapia with Rice Noodles, Little Gem Lettuces and Dill by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Salt-baked Red Tilapia with Rice Noodles, Little Gem Lettuces and Dill by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons

My favorite of the three offerings from Lang Baan though were these spicy Northern Thai Lamb Tartare with Avocado and Belgian Endive, though maybe my bias towards spicy food and particularly Northern Thai food is influencing me with this choice.
Northern Thai Lamb Tartare with Avocado and Belgian Endive by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Northern Thai Lamb Tartare with Avocado and Belgian Endive by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons

Second course

Matthew Domingo, our Master of Dinner I’ll call him, gently herded us to the tables for the next four courses. You can see Ben Jacobsen and Ivan Orkin surveying the guests by that entrance to the William Sonoma Open Kitchen, perhaps talking about future plans for another get together of deliciousness…?
The mingling of guests while enjoying a glass of Brooks Winery white during the First course of passed hors d'oeuvres at the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan - you can see Ben Jacobsen and Ivan Orkin surveying the guests enjoying the First Course right there by the entrance to the William Sonoma Open kitchen.

As we were seated, Brooks Winery’s Runaway Red was poured.
Wines provided by Brooks Winery (here Runaway Red) for the Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, presented by Williams Sonoma and New Seasons Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, moving on to the seated courses as Brooks Winery Runaway Red is poured Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan, moving on to the seated courses as Brooks Winery Runaway Red is poured

The Second course was by Ivan Ramen, and was a dish of incredible Mushrooms Casino with King Oyster Mushrooms, Baby Clams, Bacon, and Crispy Panko. I even liked the fact that we were eating these with the chopsticks as it forced us to really taste the components slowly rather than just shoveling it all in with a spoon like a food drug. Thankfully I or you can get the fix on again at Ivan Ramen’s dinner menu in NY.

Third course

For the Third course, Lang Baan was passed the baton and served a dish of Bee Local Smoked Honey Duck Curry with Cherry Tomato, Potatoes, Onion, Basil, Shallot and Coconut Rice. The Duck was sooo tender and smoky, the curry was a mix of peanut and spiciness that leaned on the side of a massamun mashed up but with deeper savoryness and heat like a red curry that could be calmed by the sweetness of the coconut rice.
Third course of Bee Local Smoked Honey Duck Curry with Cherry Tomato, Potatoes, Onion, Basil, Shallot and Coconut Rice by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan Third course of Bee Local Smoked Honey Duck Curry with Cherry Tomato, Potatoes, Onion, Basil, Shallot and Coconut Rice by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan Third course of Bee Local Smoked Honey Duck Curry with Cherry Tomato, Potatoes, Onion, Basil, Shallot and Coconut Rice by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan

Fourth course

The baton is back to Ivan Ramen, who presented a cold ramen (available at both Ivan Ramen and Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop in New York) in the form of Cold Lemon Shio Dashi Ramen with roasted tomato, Jacobsen Sea Salt, Toasted Rye Noodle, Dungeness Crab, and Scallion Oil.
Fourth course of Cold Lemon Shio Dashi Ramen with roasted tomato, Jacobsen Sea Salt, Toasted Rye Noodle, Dungeness Crab, and Scallion Oil by Ivan Ramen for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan Fourth course of Cold Lemon Shio Dashi Ramen with roasted tomato, Jacobsen Sea Salt, Toasted Rye Noodle, Dungeness Crab, and Scallion Oil by Ivan Ramen for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan

Fifth course

I know many of us were wondering about the dessert listed, as it seemed like a really bizarre combination. Well, trust in Lang Baan and Earl Nissom to show us that Coconut Ice Cream with Corn Salad, Jacobsen Vanilla Salt, Purple Rice, Strawberry, Peanut, and Jackfruit is a perfect combination of textures and a worthy dessert for such a memorable meal.
Fifth course of Coconut Ice Cream with Corn Salad, Jacbosen Vanilla Salt, Purple Rice, Strawberry, Peanut, and Jackfruit by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan Fifth course of Coconut Ice Cream with Corn Salad, Jacbosen Vanilla Salt, Purple Rice, Strawberry, Peanut, and Jackfruit by Lang Baan for Jacobsen Salt Co Salt Fire Water dinner #3 with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan

For more photos, check out the Williams Sonoma blog entry for #SaltFireWater Dinner with Ivan Ramen + Lang Baan or search the hashtag #SaltFireWater on Instagram!

To sign up for future SALT FIRE WATER Feasts – click to the Jacobsen Salt Co Eventbrite Ticket site. The next one is a bargain I think on July 12 – “Eclade de Moules” – a French tradition of roasting fresh mussels with pine boughs and then eating then with one’s hands that will take place just outside the Jacobsen Salt Co. Headquarters at 602 SE Salmon St.

The $55 includes a wine happy hour, the feasting with the roasted fresh mussels, and then going inside for a communal buffet featuring Foster’s Craft Cooking as well as live music, a photo booth, and Oregon craft beer & wine.  There will be two seatings, and tickets to the experience are limited to 100 people.

Menu details include

  • Fire-roasted mussels with good olive oil, Jacobsen sea salt and Ken’s Artisan Bread
  • Summer’s Ratatouille Gratin
  • Pissaladiere
  • Northwest Nicoise Salad
  • Cherry Clafouti

If the Calcotado dinner looked amazeballs to you, here’s you second chance for a similar experience!

What do you think of the dishes by Ivan and Earl – what do you think would have been your favorite?

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Fruits and Berries at Hollywood Farmers Market

Can you tell that it just maybe, maybe it is tomato season and berry season in Oregon? It’s been very hot and dry this summer which is a little hard on the humans but has been wonderful for the tomatoes. Here’s a look at what I found at the Hollywood Farmers Market.

A Saturday in August at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, Oregon, with so much tomato goodness A Saturday in August at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, Oregon, with so much tomato goodness A Saturday in August at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, Oregon, with so much tomato goodness A Saturday in August at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, Oregon, with so much tomato goodness A Saturday in August at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, Oregon, with so much tomato goodness A Saturday in August at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, Oregon, have you ever head or Pineapple Tomatillos / Ground Cherry? A Saturday in August at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, Oregon, a new adventure when I was introduced to Teggia, an Italian Shelling Bean Just another normal find of beautiful berries at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, on an August lunch visit to the market /> Just another normal find of beautiful berries at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, on an August lunch visit to the market /> Just another normal find of beautiful berries at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, on an August lunch visit to the market Just another normal find of beautiful berries at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, on an August lunch visit to the market
Just another normal find at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, on an August lunch visit to the market Just another normal find at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Portland, on an August lunch visit to the market

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Portland Farmers Market at PSU

Images from yet another beautiful day at the Portland Farmers Market at PSU on Saturday, so bountiful…

 Portland Farmers Market PSU Rainbow of cherry Tomatoes   Portland Farmers Market PSU Broccoli Portland Farmers Market PSU, cauliflower and other friends/cousins of broccoliPortland Farmers Market PSU, giant Italian Artichokes Portland Farmers Market PSU, farm fresh eggs with faces Portland Farmers Market PSU  squash baskets Portland Farmers Market PSU eggplants glistening Portland Farmers Market PSU, Viridian Farms edible flowers and Piparra Portland Farmers Market PSU, Dahlias Portland Farmers Market PSU, Dahlias  Portland Farmers Market PSU, a lovely arrangement Portland Farmers Market PSU, big green butter lettuce Portland Farmers Market PSU, so many berries Portland Farmers Market PSU, various peppers, eggplants, cherry tomatoes... Portland Farmers Market PSU, green

A few peeks at some of the food vendors like Via Chicago for their Chicago style pizza and Pine State Biscuits sandwich with a buttery biscuit, fried chicken, a slice of Tillamook cheddar and then added extra of pimento cheese. Also pictured is a special Mushroom Duxelles from Marshall;s Haute Sauce that day and my normal favorite Carrot Habanaro Curry. Meanwhile, Verde Cucina is always a popular long line as you can smell their grilled vegetables and adobo chicken luring you towards them from half the market area!
Portland Farmers Market PSU, Via Chicago, chicago style pizza Portland Farmers Market PSU, Pine State biscuit fried chicken sandwich Portland Farmers Market PSU, Mushroom Duxelles from Marshall's Haute Sauce Portland Farmers Market PSU, Marshall's Haute Sauce, the spicy Carrot Habanero Curry from bbbbbbbbbb Verde Cocina is always a popular food stand at Portland Farmers Market PSU for their grilled veggies

Until the next visit to Portland Farmers Market at PSU

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