Yum, macadamia and sea salt. I just tried the salt and chocolate combo recently with the Vosges barcelona bar (a gift so I didn't pay the ridiculous pricetag for it!) Hickory smoked almonds and sea salt in milk chocolate. Delicious. Still haven't tried the bacon bar and I think I'm ok with that.

I wouldn't put anything from a company named "Shaman Chocolates" into my mouth.

Red bean paste is one of my favourite sweet things, but I'd still rather have good chocolate.

I'd expect a shaman chocolate bar to have fly agaric and peyote.

I tried a really strange chocolate truffle the last time I was in NYC. It was dark chocolate and dusted with wasabe. I don't know what tempted me to try it, and I know it sounds ick, but it was awesome. I don't think I've ever had such a concert of flavors going on in my mouth in just 2 decadent bites.

I fell in love with salt and chocolate with my first chocolate covered pretzel. The Dutch Market on York Road has great ones at a fraction of what you pay at gourmet candy shops.

Lissa, the problem with peyote in chocolate is that no matter how good it tasted going down, it'd still come back up. Thus, possibly forever removing the love of chocolate from someone's life. It'd be the "chocolate incident".

Er...I just happen to know this...

Joyce, I'm sure you learned everything you know about peyote on wikipedia.

Lissa, um, er, yeah, that's the ticket! Wikopedia!

That's weird!

Ms E

How strange indeed! The Huichol are an indigenous people in the Sierras just east of Puerto Vallarta. The connection to Hawaiian macadamia nuts and pink salt is curious.

My contacts with members of the people have been very casual, but the characteristic of any I've met is, they are rooted in their traditional lifestyle and generate income from their locally produced crafts. The main focus of their spiritual sphere is Peyote and I have never heard Chocolate mentioned.

FYI, this link is to a site in PV that gives a good overview of the Huichol art and culture. www.peyotepeople.com

Trader Joe's Spiced Mango-Slices-dipped-in-dark-chocolate is yet another savory and sweet (but not overtly salty, though I'm sure there is a little in the sprinkled spices) chocolate excursion. No Shaman involvement, though. Yum.

Liz, we've been big on salted chocolates and caramels for a while, but while you're on this, I thought I'd hip you to something I discovered by accident a few years ago: salted ice cream.

We were doing a white truffle dinner (I know, I know), but were collectively disturbed that dessert couldn't stick to the theme. So we brought out some incredible hazelnut and vanilla gelati, and I pulled out a small jar of black truffle salt. History was made.

750mL.blogspot.com

Thanks! I've been meaning to link to your Aug. 6 post because it made me laugh out loud. "New York should just stop." EL

A Google search reveals lots of salted ice cream being available over the past several years. Good luck to 750ml in trying to claim sole credit for the discovery.

Thank you for that link, EL. I know precious little about wine, but reading Nilay Gandhi's writing provides pleasure that rivals the most exquisite glass of claret.

As for the salt/ice cream combo, I have to agree with hmpstd. My mother always served pretzels alongside our vanilla ice cream, and I do the same with my kids.

We didn't eat ice cream when I was a kid, so I missed out on this tradition of salting it. Nice to see it was already live and well, and I hope it lives on (though I do have to wonder how many of you used truffle salt on your ice cream--maybe a little different than pretzels).

I'm assuming Laura's being sarcastic, but thanks anyway for the nod.