|
|
|
Dishing the DIRT We talk with Todd the DIRT Man, about Todd's DIRT, "the ultimate seasoning and BBQ rub." There are fourteen herbs and spices in Todd’s Original Dirt. The ones we know about include oregano,
garlic, onion, parsley and a wee touch of cilantro. There’s some sea salt, too, and black pepper.
Crabby Dirt, Todd’s alternative to salt-heavy big-time crab spices, has 20 spices, including celery salt, ginger and paprika. And a lot less salt.
But that’s about all you’re likely to find out
about the secret formula for Todd’s Dirt. This is understandable, considering that his “ultimate seasoning and
rub” took him umpteen years to develop, refine and launch. Todd Courtney, now proudly the Dirt Man, took more than a
decade to create Todd’s Dirt, tweaking this and that, seeing what his friends thought, tweaking again. Until about five
years ago, a gift of Todd’s Dirt remained a family Christmas present.
Then he began whipping up a batch every month, and it finally became time to go
public. Now, Todd’s Dirt has been on the market for almost two years. And it’s a kick to see a product bear the
address “Severna Park, MD.” It’s also a kick to see a tasty product say “0 calories.” Dirt is
all natural, with no sugars added.
The concept behind Todd’s Dirt is one of simplicity. Todd knows lots of people, tons of cooks, especially grillers, who just want to reach for one bottle of herbs. One reliable mixture. One perfect blend that goes on everything. That’s what he says about Todd’s Dirt. “It’s great on anything where you’d use salt and pepper. Ideal for grilling.
How to Use Dirt
It is simple to reach for Todd’s Dirt, and we’ve used it to quickly flavor a sour cream dip or an olive oil for dipping. The blend is powerful and flavorful. Seasoning anything takes less than you’d think, so start gentle. So why the name Todd’s Dirt? It’s catchy, of course, and it came from a family joke. A neighbor couldn’t bring herself to ask Todd to send over a plastic baggie full of “grass,” so she asked for some of that “dirt” instead. It stuck.
Recipes abound for Todd’s Dirt, especially on his website. Try this one:
Dirty Grilled Onions: By "The Dirt Man" 2 large onions 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoon butter 1 to 2 tablespoons Original Todd's DIRT (to taste) Slice onions. Combine olive oil, butter, and onions in a sauce pan. Cover onions with Original Todd's DIRT. Sauté onions on medium low heat on stove top or on the grill. Cook until tender (caramelize to a rich brown). Todd’s comments: Okay, I added this because this is one of my favorites to put on hamburgers, steak, chicken and pork chops. You will always put this on your steak or hamburger after trying these onions. They are DIRTlisious. I also like to drain the liquid from the onions and pour it over the steak or pork chops, at the tail end of cooking. This is a DIRT Man little grilling secret.
Want to find Todd’s Dirt? You can order it on the website of course, along with cookbook and beer cozy. Or look for it on the shelves at Eddie’s, The Butcher’s Block,
Graul’s, Victoria’s Fancy Foods, My Butcher & More, and St. Michael’s Flamingo Flats. A 2.75 oz (3.25 for Crabby) jar runs about $5.00. It will keep well, as most dried herbs, for about a year. So now’s
the time to get it, as we fire up our grills. Have fun! Get dirty!
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
