I've heard great things about The Meadow so I decided to visit the Mississippi location to check it out on my recent trip to Portland. Street parking was easy. The shop is maintained beautifully, and my group was greeted warmly by Catherine who was working the store during my visit. She gave my group a thorough explanation of all the specialty salts available, and explained the differences in cultivation & flavor profiles of fleur de sel, sel gris, flake, smoked, and shio salts just to name a few. I loved trying the chocolate salt! We also learned about all the different origins and makers of the chocolates available as well. Catherine was extremely knowledgeable and attentive to detail, she made the shopping experience feel fun and comfortable. We ended up purchasing the black truffle salt, sel gris, hana flake salt, the meadow's own backyard blackberry patch & strawberry dark chocolate bars, a few other dark chocolate bars, some of the delectable small individual chocolates at the counter - and we couldn't resist also buying the cutest tiny fairy star salt spoon, too. Amazing experience, and everything was so delicious - I would definitely visit again! read more

There is definitely a variety of chocolates, bitters, and salt here. Honestly I wasn't aware of the all the variety of salt. Overall a cool store to check out for a foodie. There were so many things to try and a lot of gourmet treats. The Mississippi district can be a parking challenge so look for parking on the side streets. Also plenty of things to do around here to include shopping, eating and drinking read more

For the foodie in your life, or for yourself, you can definitely find some treasures! While the shop focuses on salt, chocolate, bitters and flowers, there are so many varieties of each, that you can wander and marvel, making decisions a bit challenging! The wall of chocolate contains bars from all over the world, and a section with local chocolates. Half the wall contains plain chocolate ranging from milk to the darkest dark. The other side does the same, but with mix ins. And not just the typical almonds or sea salt, be adventurous and try the dark with dried berries or the honey lavender. The bars are pricey, about $11 for 2 oz, but worth it for a decadent treat that you savor slowly, say with a glass of red. Lots of bitters to make craft cocktails and spritzers. Also some syrups - I love the cardamom. And so many salts!!! I've ought a jar of fine finishing flakes that really take a simple dish or baked good to the next level! The truffle salt, while displayed as a topping for popcorn, is even better sprinkled on triple cream Brie. As you enter, there is a table filled with dozens of vases, each containing various stems of flowers for purchase. Love that you can mix and match to make your own bouquet. Small footprint, but mighty. Will be back before the holidays to buy hostess gifts and stocking stuffers. read more

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I ordered a 4 x 8 x 2 salt block online, and picked it up in person Mar 30 2026. I wanted to open the package and inspect it, but the saleswoman told me it wasn't necessary because the blocks packaged up are all the best of the best. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. I got home and there is a 1 cubic inch chunk broken off one corner. NOT A QUALITY PRODUCT, but it was wrapped and sealed. YOU HAVE TO INSPECT BEFORE BUYING!! They offered to exchange it it I drove all the way over there AGAIN. They are trying to pass off inferior merchandise, sight unseen. Definitely not worth the time and trouble to do business here. read more

Fabulous selection of chocolate, helpful staff. The N. 23rd location is my favorite. Well worth a stop.

Yes! I went in for a gift of gourmet vegan chocolate, and boy did I pick THE SPOT to shop!! Way too easy to drop a hundred here! Totally worth it. I got exactly what I was looking for X's 7!! Customer service was fantastic, I got plenty of help and information to make my choices. Super appreciate the person helping me who's name I've forgotten (so sorry!!) they were awesome!! it was a Saturday evening when I stopped it, it wasn't too busy just before closing. It's Mississippi, so parking isn't plentiful, as expected. Not a big deal walking around is part of the appeal, you discover so much more!! Definitely going to be my new go to!! read more

Their shop is small but mighty-their bitters wall is both an inspiration and aspiration. They offer samples of popcorn with some of their salts and seasonings, and looking around the shop was so much fun. This is an excellent place to expand one's kitchen and home bar. Also their chocolate wall: pure temptation. read more

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We stopped in after grabbing sushi next door to look for a gift for a co-worker. This place is amazing!! It's focus is on fresh flowers, handmade chocolate from around the world, specialty salt blends, cocktail ingredients and a sprinkling of other products. They have samples of special batch popcorn and the salt blends. The garlic popcorn was addicting! I created a cute gift set that my co-worker loved!! Support local!! read more

Been coming here for years. Nice they are doing so well to open more shops. They really need a shop like this in Seattle. Took a friend here recently and told her about the wonderful salts like the truffle salt so she got some. I was looking for a specific chocolate bar for my husband that I bought at their Division shop. It seems the inventory varies per shop so they didn't have what I wanted. Love all the variety in salts and chocolates. Who knew we needed this much variety but why not! read more

What an amazing shop. The variety was out of this world for amazing chocolate. They have a great selection of local chocolate. I also love the wall of salts and salt blocks. Staff was friendly and deeply knowledgeable about the products being sold. The location is great and surrounded by lots of great shopping and eating spots. read more

Always the most welcoming place in the neighborhood ... flowers, chocolates, spices, tea ... terrific!

My partner and I happen to be in the area and walked into this cute store. We purchased some popcorn and popcorn salt kit. The sales person was really nice and knowledgable. read more

The owner here is so extremely kind and informative! She offered samples of yummy salt truffle popcorn to me and my entire group. There was so many options of chocolate and you will not feel list cause the owner was quick to as what we like and she will tell you which chocolate goes with your palate. I felt like I was in the store from the film chocolate. The place smelled amazing as she also sells fresh flowers. I loved all the options from spices, candles, flowers, and yes chocolates from all over the world! It's truly a diamond in the rough. Everything me and my group purchased was worth every penny! Hope to come back again very soon! read more

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For the chocolate or salt connoisseur in your life, this store is a must visit in Portland. They specialize in a broad range of high end chocolate, salt, pepper, wine and flowers. You don't go here if you are on a budget. This is where you go for a splurge or to find a specialty item that can't be located elsewhere in Portland. The selection of salt spoons alone is worth a visit. One of the reasons I can't quite give them five stars is that the experience is overwhelming for me each and every time. The space is small and my senses are overloaded with the smell of the flowers and the sheer number of items stacked high on the walls that it all seems too much at times. I've been raving about Cacao for ages, but I think The Meadow gives them a run for their money in the boutique chocolate bar category. The least expensive bar is around $3 and they range upwards of $25 (yes, you read that correctly). I felt like Charlie Bucket taking my precious candy bar to the counter and half expected to find a golden ticket inside. Of course, my heart still belongs to Cacao since they serve my favorite drinking chocolate in the city. But this high end marketplace is now my favorite food art gallery in town. The wall of salt belongs in the MoMA. read more

The Meadow - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

After our breakfast at Tasty N Sons, we were shopping in the area and stumbled upon The Meadow. The shop smelled heavenly. They had popped popcorn for sampling and topped it with their truffle salt. One wall of the shop was covered with chocolate bars and plenty of local ones, which is what I wanted. Another wall was filled with bitters and other salts. It was just a cool interesting place. I ended up with Moonstruck chocolates and a bar of Ama chocolate, all PDX local and felt like I stumbled into the coolest witches's coven. read more

The Meadow was a stop on a food tour with Forktown. It is a really cute shop with tons of salts, chocolates, bitters and a small sample of fresh flowers. They offer a wide variety of locally made chocolates and the variety of finishing salts was fun to explore. Our favorite was the black truffle salt. Great stop whether local or a tourist to pick up some local treats and items to put a unique spin on meals spent at home. read more

Fanciness ensues! Imagine if you're Willie Wonka and you had a tiny boutique with fancy salt, chocolates and bitters. You would end up with The Meadow. The store has all you can imagine when you think of the words "handcraft", "artisan" and "locally sourced". I'm not 100% sure about that last one but it looked like the salts and chocolates are mostly Portland made. Pick up some truffle salt and siracha salt, you'll want to put that one everything. I got some out of town friends some chocolate gifts. It's not everyday shopping but if you want to give or buy something special, this place will be gourmet. They had some popcorn with truffle salt available for sampling. There is a jar of single French caramels near the register, those were a delicious treat! The person working in the store was helpful in providing recommendations when I asked about bitters. Mostly, I don't think you can go wrong here but your wallet will be a lighter when you leave! read more

The Meadow - Heaven? Oh no, just shelf full of fancy chocolates! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Really love the chocolate selection here; this is my go-to spot for a treat. The customer service is always 10/10, too. This review is for the truffle popcorn. I love the flavor but the last 3 times I've purchased it, it has been so salted it is actually inedible. This message is for whoever makes it; please for the love of gawd check your salt to popcorn ratio. I get so excited to take the bag home, and then have to toss all of it out because it's like eating a bag of salt. I really love the idea of a regular popcorn rotation here since they offer such good salts and seasoning, but I won't be buying popcorn again if the next batch leaves me feeling this salty. read more

Yelp reviews should always be taken with a grain of salt. Luckily, you can purchase however many grains and kinds of salt you desire at The Meadow on Mississippi Avenue. Salt and Salt Blocks make up two of the four pillars of the Meadow store along with Chocolates and Cocktail Bitters. Seriously, if you are into any of these four things, you must visit The Meadow. * Salt from all regions of the world in a variety of flavors, textures, and uses * Himalayan Pink Salt Blocks from Pakistan for grilling, freezing, or serving food * Bitters & Mixers cause they are to alcohol what salt is to food * Chocolates from around the globe you can eat at your home In The Meadow, you can't build a snowman, but you can find a tiny wonderland of craft salts, gourmet chocolates, pink salt blocks, and handmade cocktail bitters that'll allow you to conspire as you dream by the fire, to face unafraid, the flavors that they've made, eating like a winner, Portland. read more

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"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men." Um, not so fast, Jesus. Are we talking table salt or really, really good salt? If we're talking about the salts sold at the Meadow there will be no casting out of salts, and in fact I will be licking each fleck up, trodden under stinky feet or not. But these salts would never lose their savor, so pour some on. Apparently The Meadow has the world's largest salt collection, and it is quite impressive. My friend had mentioned how amazing their black truffle salt was, and I already knew I wanted to come by, but I was not expecting two walls full of salt procured from Japanese volcanoes, Brazilian seas, French caves, and everything in between. Little sample after little sample lead to a very hypertensive me, but it was worth it. They also sell big Himalayan salt slabs for the home cook, so when you need to give a gift that keeps on giving, this is a good bet. The salts are sold in different sizes, so you can keep your costs low by getting a 'taster' or go crazy getting some rare and exotic salt in a 32 oz bag. The staff is knowledgeable about how to pair the salts and I never got a sales pitch, just friendly and enthusiastic Portlandia hospitality. Besides salts, there is an amazing collection of bitters and chocolates, as well as a decent flower selection. Whoever runs this store must operate on the pleasure principle, because everything offered here pleases on a visceral level, and I like it. "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."-good encapsulation of the Meadow's philosophy. And that salt and tomatoes go together like peaches and cream. If you can't get to Portland, they have a website! read more

The Meadow - Wall of salts! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I'm a big follower of Jen K.'s reviews and am well aware of her love of chocolate. And following her cocoa-laced exploits often reminds me of a Sandra Boynton cartoon. So based on her strong recommendation, I visited The Meadow during my recent day trip to Portland. In terms of Gene Roddenberry's classic TV series, I'm more of a chocolate Trekkie, rather than a Trekker. This means that I wasn't wearing Jen's pointed ears when I entered the USS Meadow (NCC-57418). They really do have a great (and spendy) chocolate bar collection and you can be assured that after tasting their wares, you will "Live Long and Prosper". The shop is small, cute and well organized. In addition to chocolate, The Meadow also has a nice selection of finishing salts, wine, and flowers. It would be a great place to pick out a nice gift for that special someone and even on the way home from work. read more

After eating at TNS and K&Z we were walking towards the MAX light rail and haphazardly came across The Meadow!! So excited because I had previously read about this place in a news article and didn't even think I would be able to go here (but by a bit of luck and lostness we got there!) They have a GREATTT selection of salts! I tried chocolate salt, fleur de sel, and rosemary to name a few. They also have a whole wall of chocolate!! Ramen noodles chocolate was a fun one I saw and I picked up a few locally OR made chocolates for gifts. That day they also featured a free wine tasting. Yummy pinot noir! Also tasted a few of their bitters which were well...bitter! Ha ha... but are amazing in drinks!! A great little store to grab unique gifts and take break from eating :) read more

I didn't know about finishing salts until I walked into this little shop in the Historic Mississippi district. Greeted warmly by a french looking guy in a scarf and skinny pants, I learned a thing or two about salt. You can cook on blocks of it, use it to add flavor to your food, get minerals from it, squish it in between your fingers to see the way it crumbles and basically just revel in it's unique qualities. They also sell beautiful salt spoons and tiny majestic bowls to keep your salt in. The Indian salt Kala Namak was the one I ended up getting as it tastes like sulfer and is a bit spicy. Kind of like eggs actually. I was told that a lot of vegans add it to their fake eggs so it tastes more egg-like. "Kala Namak, or Black Salt (also called Nirav Black Salt or Sanchal), is a special unrefined mineral salt from Darjeeling, India. It is a volcanic rock salt mined in central India. The finishing salt is not black, but more of a coral pink or pinkish gray, and has a strong, sulfuric flavor. These colors come from the presence of trace minerals such as magnesium, as well as volcanic iron. Kala Namak is used in Indian cuisine as a condiment, most commonly with snack foods. It is used in chaats (fruit glazes), chutneys, raitas (yogurt and cucumbers mixes), fruit salads, and savory deep-fried snacks. The finishing salt has a strong sulfur taste and smell. While this unique quality is often diffused when cooked, it nonetheless adds a special taste of eggs. In India, Kala Namak is recommended for people with high blood pressure and to people who are on low-salt diets, because it is lower in sodium and supposedly does not increase sodium content in the blood. In Ayurveda (ayurvedic medicine), it is also know for comforting intestinal gas and heartburn. It is believed to help with indigestion and other digestive problems. None of this makes it an easy sell to American cooks, but try it in a traditional dish you will get an edifying and satisfying experience. In India, a common appetizer is a pinch of Kala Namak eaten with a slice of fresh ginger before a main meal." It's a unique salt that I'm happy to have in my kitchen. Will be back to buy chocolate and wine next. They're happy to let you sample them, too. LOVE this store. Will be back. Great customer service. Unique salts, wines and chocolate. The perfect store for a gift for yourself or the ones you love. read more

The Meadow - The lovely employees of The Meadow. Excellent customer service! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Hadn't been here for a few years, but glad I made a point on my last trip. I have been on their mailing list since I visited back in 2007, and have ordered from them as well. It was great to check out the store again...salts, chocolates, flowers, and now a whole huge assortment of bitters! My cousin (local to Portland) was so glad I showed her this place!!! read more

The Meadow - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Chocolate curation, customer service and general "up your cocktail game"ry simply doesn't get any better than at the Meadow. It's a true find and they have an incredible eye for all things fancy. A few years ago, the husband and I decided to try our hand at mixing cocktails beyond the standard issue, and when searching around for where we could find bitters and mixers locally, we came upon the NY location of The Meadow. We wandered in one afternoon and could not believe the incredible display. A captivating array of potions, beakers, blocks and jars of every sort, and just to our left...a wall of chocolate. A wall of the best array of chocolate we'd every seen. Brands I've heard of but had never seen, many I hadn't, with beautiful packaging and the promise of a new discovery within. With the push of the Meadow into this new realm, we are now fully obsessed with chocolate. Not just any chocolate but the really good stuff, which is the only kind that the Meadow carries. If you start going deep into the chocolate blogs (yes, there are chocolate blogs...I did say obsessed) and run through the list of the "must try" brands, the Meadow carries more of these brands than any other place. Yes, the chocolate is pricey, but this is not the kind of chocolate where you eat the entire bar while watching an episode of Girls. This is savor it, one square at a time, compare and contrast with several other bars chocolate. A little goes a very long way, and if you get a bunch, it really lasts a very long time. I haven't even mentioned the salt, which is clearly another of the Meadow's very special offerings. We have not delved yet into that arena, and frankly, I'm a little scared to get hooked on that too. One final note: I often like to give a few bars of chocolate to houseguests or when we are visiting friends to indoctrinate them into the Way of the Chocolate, and on a recent Monday, I suddenly realized that I hadn't prepared far enough in advance for an upcoming trip where 3 sets of chocolates were required. They could not have been nicer, more accommodating or more thoughtful in following up to make sure the order arrived in time (it did). Do take the plunge and treat yourself to the best. The Meadow really is it. read more

I've placed 2-3 mail orders through The Meadow during the pandemic. Even online, the array of delicacies impresses me enormously. Products are pricey but of high quality. Given the fair trade movement, I'd like to read more about fair trade issues in the online descriptions than The Meadow typically offers... whether products are certified or not doesn't have to matter, but in deciding what to buy, it can be helpful to know which small farmers have the most control over their working conditions. About customer service at The Meadow... maybe it depends on who you get. Their website or staff made a mistake on two of my mail orders in late 2020. The Meadow sent notes to two of my gift recipients, who were supposed to get one-time gifts from me, saying they could expect to receive gifts from me every month for a whole year. I only ordered one-time gifts. The Meadow apologized to me after I contacted them about it, but I still had to backtrack with the gift recipients and correct The Meadow's mistake. In May 2021 I tried to place another mail order. The Meadow's website made a mistake, and I asked The Meadow staff online for help resolving it so I could place the order. Unfortunately I had a customer service experience similar to what reviewer Amber said in her 12/2/19 review. Several emails later, I gave up and I shopped with a different vendor. So now, for potential online customers, I recommend watching here for recent reviews from other customers. Ideally things will get better with customer service and the mail order website. Altogether I offer 3 stars out of 5 -- "okay." I wish this review could have been more like chocolate, and less like bitters or salt. read more

One of our favorite spots to visit while we were in Portland. We were able to visit two of the three Meadow establishments, and neither disappointed. The wall of hundreds of chocolate bars was a piece of art, and we took some of that art home and enjoyed it greatly! Must visit!! read more

An amazing specialty shop showcasing world salts, pepper, gourmet chocolate bars, infused bitters (ie cherry, ginger, lavender, etc), beautiful flowers & European wines. Surprised to see an impressive array of Hawaiian salts, many a variety I have never encountered in the islands before. Moloka'i red salt? Bold & powerful. Available Tibetan salt slabs for shaving, serving & creative cooking. What an interesting concept. A store unlike any I have ever encountered and wish were in my neck of the woods. Luckily products are available online with free U.S. shipping on orders $35 or more. read more

The Meadow - Hawaiian salts - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I drove to Portland specifically to visit this store. Recently I started trying various salts and how they enhanced foods, but unless you order on-line it is difficult to find a wide variety of salts anywhere other then The Meadow. I had glanced through the book "Salted" and upon seeing that there was a store not too far away I drove down to take a peek. It is a very quaint store in an eclectic neighborhood. Never having seen a salt wall it was a bit overwhelming at first. They have salts from all over the world and sell then in various sized containers. If you are not sure where to begin you can try one of their sampler sets or you can ask the very friendly helpful staff. They'll give recommendations and tell you which salts pair with which foods the best. You can also sample the salts. They also have Himalayan salt blocks and bowls of various sizes. You can cook with these and they also have a mixture. It is a great stop for a foodie. read more

I read about The Meadow online while researching things to do on vacation in Portland. I was really interested in getting information about gray salt and purchasing a porcelain salt cellar so when I entered the store I kinda knew what to expect. The young lady who helped me was very informative and welcoming. I learned all I wanted to know about all kinds of salt, chocolate, and wine. I purchased the Gourmet Salt Starter Set which comes with 6 finishing salts each in 1 ounce tins (really great value $24). I also bought a porcelain salt cellar and a container of Sel Gris de l'Ile de Noirmoutier (a wonderful gray finishing salt). With my purchase I received literature on how to use my salts including which salts go best with specific types of food, etc... I had a wonderful experience at the Meadow and would definitely recommend anyone looking for specialty salts to head there! read more

The Meadow - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I love this shop. It has such a neat atmosphere. Fresh flowers, chocolate, many types of bitters and unique salt packs. It's a great spot to browse for gifts or items you want in your own home. The chocolate selection is large, with a lot of healthy dark chocolate from various countries. I also appreciate the choice of unique bitters for expanding the home bar ingredients. I recommend stopping by for a memorable shopping experience. read more

The Meadow - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great little shop. Stopped in a couple of weeks ago to look at the salt blocks. Nice selection and helpful staff. I ended up buying a 9x9 inch block for cooking. Impressive selection of salts & high end chocolates. Actually, the best selection south of the Internet. If your into drinking they also have the best selection of bitters that I've seen locally. Fun little shop and definitely worth a stop if you're killing some time waiting for the food carts at Skidmore & Mississippi to open. read more

The Meadow - Salt Blocks - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great customer service can be rare these days in Portland, but The Meadow is a great example of folks who go above and beyond. I stopped in to get a birthday gift for a friend who is a chocolate fiend. I knew about this spot because I'd checked it out in the past and loved the ambiance. I was greeted upon entering by a friendly staff member who helped me pick out three awesome chocolates for the birthday girl. When I was paying, I asked if they had gift bags and they went so far as to wrap it up in tissue and put together a perfect gift bag for me. Only thing left to do was write the card and I was good to go. This simple act really put a smile on my face and made my day so much easier. Thanks The Meadow - you rock! read more

SALT SALT SALT (and chocolate and wine). Wow, I had no idea this place existed, but ever since I went to Nuts-hell and had their bread/oil/salt combo, I've been dying to find some gourmet finishing salt. Thank you to teh interwebz, for pointing me to The Meadow. This place has an insane selection of gourmet salts. Volcanic salt, truffle salt, saffron salt, Japanese salt, fleur de sel, smoked salt, and on and on. They also carry an array of peppers, including red and green sichuan peppers (hard to find). Of course, what would a salt and pepper shop be without mills? They offer a fine selection of S&P mills to go along with your fancy new purchase. Chocolate and wine are the other 2 main products here, and they carry an eclectic variety of each. The wall-of-chocolate is impressive, and I had to avert my eyes to avoid spending gobs of money on exotic cacao. They had a salted caramel sauce that looked phenomenal... I just had to keep on walking. All I could afford today was my salt purchase: A Red Alder Smoked salt, a Sugar Maple smoked salt, and a fancy flake salt. They have a nifty guide that tells you what each salt goes well with (and includes which salts go well with chocolate, fruit, etc.) Who woulda thunk?? I will definitely be returning when I have more money and more time to peruse. Oh, as a nice bonus, they have tasters of all the salts. Make sure to bring a bottle of water to cleanse the palate between each taste. I had a cup of coffee on hand... coffee and salt don't really mix. read more

Two words: Truffle salt. It is the most amazingly delicious addition to cooked foods that you can buy. Even though it's expensive, it goes a long way -- and makes everything from omelettes to pasta to sauteed kale taste incredible!!! Like an old apothecary shop, with wares that heal, (salt was used for wounds on ships, after all), the store is tiny, mysterious, beautiful, and seemingly hidden. Only everyone knows about it! From fancy dark chocolate (with salt or without), to beautiful bouquets of sweet peas to wines to a wall of fancy finishing salts (for after cooking)-- each with its own delicate flavor, -- The Meadow is not to be missed for you or friends who are foodies! We would never have gone in had we not been on a tour (Forktown tours), but I'm so glad we did. Our lives are changed. Seriously! read more

I can say that I entered this store not knowing one thing about the mysterious world of exotic salts and left the store empty-handed but very educated. This place is a mecca for any kind of salt your heart desires, whether it be black volcanic salt from the Hawaiian islands or flaked salt for sprucing up a meal made by your inner gourmet chef self. They have various sizes of Himalayan salt blocks for cooking and preparing/serving meals as well as numerous flavors of bitters and exotic chocolates. If you're a serious cook or chef, this is your place if you want to add a little extra special touch on something you're proud of. What I liked best about this place, however, is that throughout the store near the products there are cards that tell you about the salts, blocks, etc., their history, and how to use them. The staff is super friendly, attentive and willing to educate you as well, all while not giving you that overwhelming "Oh my god, now I have to buy something" feeling. They also have very fresh flowers that you can pick and choose one at a time and/or have custom arranged into your own bouquet(s) and the prices seemed very reasonable. As I mentioned before - the chocolate. Any kind of chocolate you can think of: salted, spiced, exotic, gourmet, whatever...they have it. But be warned, this ain't your run-of-the-mill Hershey's milk chocolate. It's the real deal and comes at a real price...maybe even $8 a bar. Either way, it's fun to explore and maybe splurge on on a rainy day. read more

Who knew there would ever be such a thing as a salt shop! They have a ton of salt from all around the world and salt dishes that you can actually put on the burner to cook things that you want to infuse salt into or something. I'm gonna go back and get some salt as gifts for friends that like to cook. They also have ton of different salt grinders that you would need to grind the salt you buy. [ I really want to make a "Shake it like a salt shaker, shake it like a salt shaker, shake it like a salt shaker." But, I couldn't figure out how to do it cleanly.] They also have great salted chocolate, it was very good! If you are ever invited over to Salt n' Peppah's for game night make sure you've got some salted chocolate, you'll be the hit of the party. read more

Having never seen a salt wall, nevermind a store dedicated to salt, wine and chocolate, I was awed. The message-in-a-bottle style jars, with corks, really add a apothecary element. Add tasters of salt that embody the flavours of their labels, a treat for tastebuds. A foodie heaven if ever I've encountered one. Three faves: chocolate, the smokey varieties and the one that tasted like eggs. If I hadn't had to consider carry on baggage and customs, I would have strongly considered buying one of the Himalayan Salt Block for stove top cooking. Okay, so I was also thinking about the $80+ price tag. Recently, I also sent a birthday gift through The Meadow. Their over-the-phone customer service was stellar. They helped me select a gift, looked into staff schedules to see if they could deliver the gift, and when they couldn't, they set up next day shipping for a very nominal fee. The Meadow, you rock (salt) ! read more

I stumbled upon this place while perusing Mississippi in search for a birthday gift for my gourmet chef of a mother-in-law. This woman has EVERYTHING which makes gift buying particularly difficult. After inquiring about the salt collection, a very knowledgeable gentleman gave us quite the education on finishing salts. Who knew!?! I am not one to salt my food so at first I was a little hesitant but after the tutorial, I decided to pick up a sampler pack for myself in addition to one for my mother-in-law. After taking it home and playing with the different salts on different foods, its actually quite amazing how it changes and enhances different foods... and without making them really 'salty' (for lack of a better word) Definitely a great place to stop when gift shopping for those impossible-to-shop-for people in your life! read more

The Meadow is the specialty shop to beat all specialty shops -- they sell 4 things: salt chocolate bitters flowers Okay, that's not quite all they sell -- they also sell salt and pepper grinders and spoons and salt plate/bowls for serving.... They have an occasional bottle of local wine. They have the book on specialty salts ("SALTED") written by the shop's owner, and an equally erudite book on bitters and bar talk.... But that's about it. However, when they say salts -- they don't mean Morton's in the blue box with the girl under the umbrelly "when it rains it pours" salt. They mean fleur de sel and salen mon and salts from Hawaii and Turkey. Black salts, red salts, terra cotta salts, fruity salts, and truffle salts.... Salts for fruit and desert and decorating caramels. Salt in rocks so big it could be cut for an engagemenet ring.... And slabs of pink brick salt 2 inches thick that can be heated and cooked on -- or little slabs that are just 1/2" thick on which to arrange your chilled sushi and sashimi.... And when they say bitters -- they mean dozens and dozens and then more dozens of small batch, hand brewed bitters -- from chocolate/mole to blood orange to Peychaud's. This is a shop built on passion for small details and the adventure of the tongue. Everything is sold in tiny jars, glass thimble-size decanters, and itty-bittle bottles with eye-dropper lids. Strong flavors and extreme sensations are the rule here, not the garnish or afterthought. Add to that a staff that remembers you from one visit to the next and makes spot-on recommendations -- and this is a gastropod's heaven and a foodie's wonderland. God, I love visiting Portland! read more