Learn all you ever wanted to know about artisanal salt

Although it really explores only a few foods, The Meadow in Portland delves into them with such passion and extravagance that it’s almost baroque. This is the place to go if you want to learn about sea salt—you’ll find 145 different kinds and co-owner Mark Bitterman wrote a whole book on it, Salted. You can also find the ultimate dark chocolate bar for a hostess gift or restock your home bar with artisanal bitters and locally made vermouth. In keeping with the DIY food craze that basically started in Portland, the shop also offers classes on cooking with salt blocks and making chocolate and handcrafted cocktails.