The sous at my first job in Chicago told me to salt my pasta water 'like the sea,' and he was dead wrong

Eric Knight · 2026-10-10T14:20:03.758592+00:00

First week at this Italian spot on Grand Ave, the sous leaned over and said salt it like the sea, so I did, and the next three batches of pasta came out so salty the owner sent back a cacio e pepe. Turns out he meant a light hand, not literal ocean water, because our water is already hard as hell and the parm brings its own salt. Cost me a full night of remakes and a real stern talk in the walk-in. Anyone else get taught a saying that sounds smart but falls apart the second you actually do it?

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The sous at my first job in Chicago told me to salt my pasta water 'like the sea,' and he was dead wrong | Chefs - Babble Community