The Meadow – Gourmet Salt, More

The highlight of the past long weekend (aside from being reunited with Ken who had to go to the Philippines for a week) was my visit to the store The Meadow. I can’t even begin to describe the pure AMAZINGNESS of this store. It is everything in one tiny little room- cozy, sweet, interesting, unique, bizarre, and simply, pure bliss. What type of store is it? A boutique that specializes in salt, chocolate, drink, and flowers. Seems obscure, but when you think of it, do you really need anything else? (Don’t answer that.)

And of course, the store has two different locations. The West Village in NYC and Mississippi Avenue in Portland, Oregon.

The store has two different locations. The West Village in NYC and Mississippi Avenue in … Portland, Oregon. How picture perfect is this store? Too cute for words!

The Meadow

The gourmet salt, artisan-made chocolates, cocktail bitters, and fresh flowers all come together to provide an amazing shopping experience.  The owners, Jennifer and Mark Bitterman (“selmeliers”) know their stuff! Walking into their store for 30 minutes made me want to learn and discover more about everything they sold.

Rows and rows of salt.  Over 120 finishing salts from around the word! each has its own special mineral and crystal properties. They also carry salt sets to help beginners start learning more about the salt process. Another salt set is the popcorn set with black truffle salt! Smelled out of this world and made me want to start eating popcorn!

Rows and rows of salt. Over 120 finishing salts from around the word! Each has its own special mineral and crystal properties. They also carry salt sets to help beginners start learning more about the process of how salt gets made.

The salts had different sizes of crystals, smells, and colors. The thought of adding an extra sprinkle of love to a food dish seems so romantic and delicious.

Different sizes of crystals, smells, and colors. The thought of adding an extra sprinkle of love to a food dish seems so romantic and delicious.

Different sizes.

Different sizes.

The view out the window. Perfect for a movie to be filmed in!

The view out the window. Perfect for a movie!

The owner, Mark Bitterman, also wrote the book Salted which includes the history and recipes of salt.

The owner, Mark Bitterman, also wrote the book Salted which includes the history and recipes of salt.

Himalayan salt blocks are a fun and unique way of cooking and serving food. They look like a big brick (which they are essentially), but you use a slab of the blog to cook with on the stove or barbeque. Adventuresome!

Himalayan salt blocks are a fun and unique way of cooking and serving food. They look like a big brick (which they are essentially), but you use a slab of the blob to cook with. Adventuresome!

Delicate yellow flowers I keep on dreaming about.

Delicate yellow flowers I keep on dreaming about.

Bitters are all the rage for the cocktail drinkers. One uses them in drinks to enhance the flavor and make their cocktail come alive. Bitters are also used as a digestive aid, which is the reason why I bought some. Damn stomach!

Bitters are all the rage for the cocktail drinkers. They enhance flavor and make cocktails come alive. Bitters are also used as a digestive aid, which is the reason why I bought some. Damn stomach!

Are you for REALS? How beautiful are these flowers? The workers go to the flower district every morning to purchase flowers for the day.

Are you for REALS? How beautiful are these flowers? The workers go to the flower district every morning.

Flowers and chocolate. This store is definitely a perfect place to get all your shopping done in one place.

Flowers and chocolate. This store is definitely a perfect place to get all your shopping done in one place.

Beauties.

Beauties.

SO many chocolates to choose from! How can one decide?

SO many chocolates to choose from! How can one decide?

Nothing more beautiful.

Nothing more beautiful.

The salt I purchased.

The Josie Girl’s salt purchase

Big tub of cooking salt.

Big tub of cooking salt.

Check out the crystals!

Check out the crystals!

Specialty salt: safron and a Philipino salt,

Specialty salt: saffron and a Filipino salt, Murray Darling.

Saffron salt! Here comes Paella!

Saffron salt! Here comes Paella!

Even Zoe wants the salt....a new rattle?

Even Zoe wants the salt….a new rattle?

Although the store visit is the way to go for the full experience, the website is educational and allows you to purchase online. I bought my mother a salt-set for mother’s day! So if you live outside of Oregon or NYC, visit their store online, as no one can have too much chocolate or salt in their life! And if you do live in the area to the store, go and visit!

Anika Yael Natori, aka, The Josie Girl

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7 Comments

  1. This place looks fascinating. I might have to reconsider just using Morton’s.

    • It really is fascinating and the staff was incredibly sweet and knowledgeable! I could have talked to the woman all day!

  2. Jealous! Worth living in NYC to have access to said paradise…what else does one need in life?

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