So big news. We have a brand-spanking new salt blend. Wow is it good. And by good, we mean crazy yummy. Of course crazy yummy is the top of the chart plus some, so it is like an 11 on a 1-10 scale.

Beyond the Shaker has a love affair with dill, and finally we get to share this passion with the world. To mark our first new salt since launch, we did something completely unorthodox with this label and salt blend name (as you might be able to tell). Is it cheezy? Maybe. Is it crazy yummy? Most definitely. And certainly that is the type of sacrifice we should all be willing to live with for culinary excellence.

People who hate rhetorical questions (maybe you know who you are?) probably will not like this post, but certainly some folks might be asking – what, pray tell, is a dill salt good for? WELL! How about beef, beets, cabbage, carrots, corn, eggs, halibut, mushrooms, parsnips, peas, salmon (x a googol (the REAL google/googol)), scallops, shrimp, sour cream, tomatoes, trout, yogurt, and the list goes on and on. And no this was not a play on just increasing our key words by listing a bunch of cool foods that you eat regularly but would be better with Dill-icious – instead it is the hard and fast culinary truth. Embrace this new salt blend as we have, and reap the gastronomic pleasure that you have been missing out on all these years.

Hey, look at that! – an article we wrote was recently published in Michigan Home and Lifestyle Magazine. Here is a link to a PDF copy of the article that appeared in the Summer 2010 edition of the magazine (provided with permission from Michigan Home and Lifestyle Magazine). The article is titled “Make this Summer Worth its Salt” and it is a solid (if we do say so ourselves) primer to unrefined salts and their use, especially in summer-time applications.

The article also includes a copy of our ridiculously yummy Windy-City Celery Potato Salad. We use avocado to add huge oomph to the flavor and texture of blah old potato salad…but of course the true secret to this recipe is our hand blended Windy City Celery Salt. Seriously, if you have not tried this marvelous blended salt, we have incredibly pity for you and your taste buds. It is one of your top sellers (collect the whole set), and for very good reason! We are huge fans of Michigan Home and Lifestyle Magazine (and not just for the obvious reasons), and we highly recommend you seek it out if you can for some other delicious articles. Anyway, we hope you enjoy the article and also make some time to claim this last bit of summer to do some cooking (don’t forget the salt)!

Today the BTS spotlight shines our friends from “Oh Canada!”- O Gourmet.  With an emphasis on quality this online retailer aims to please every palette with a wide range of top-of-the-line products.  O Gourmet carries Beyond the Shaker blends as part of their selection of high end spices.

O Gourmet is a wonderful source for all your cooking needs this summer.  Be sure to check out these features on their site:

Cranberry Conserve with Port & Pecans from Summer Kitchen

• Gift ideas for Father’s Day - we like the Mustard Quartet for Dad’s who likes to add a little zing to their burgers and dogs.
• The Guide section includes tons of information on wild berries and fruits plus wild vegetables and food plants.
• In season products like these with beautiful labels from Summer Kitchen.
• The Savvy Gourmet Blog that lists special events happening now and for the rest of the season.
• An exciting recipe section including exclusive dishes from Great Chefs.
• A special Award Winners section so you can easily find the best of the best.
• The ability to create a personalized Wish List so your friends and family know just what to get you the next time you deserve a little something extra.

All this and they also have a low price guarantee!  Be sure to visit O Gourmet to find the best foods for your Beyond the Shaker creations.  We our proud to call them our partner.