When I was a child I was envious of deer.
Because I wanted a salt lick to call my own.
I did not realize they were lures set by hunters.
I just wanted to lick salt.
I salt my toast and my no-syrup pancakes.
Never syrup. Only salt.
My pizza must have anchovies... or I will salt it too.
I rage at fancy restaurants that shame me for requesting the salt shaker that is missing from my table.
I considered buying a 25-pound bag of salt on my last trip to Costco.
One day, eating mapo doufu, it occurred to me
I never salt my Sichuan.
How strange!
I never felt the need.
But of course not --
Doubanjiang, dou zhi, pickled greens, soy sauce...
Sichuan's salt delivery vehicles are multitudinous.
Sichuan food is sufficiently pre-salted.
I thought I loved Sichuan because of the ma and the la
Because of the complexity, the heat, the passion and the politics
But maybe, all along,
It was just the salt.
It all becomes clear, at last!