Chef and restaurateur Jason Santos launches his cookbook Citrus & Salt: Coastal Mexican Fare from Boston’s Hottest Restaurant this week. It brings the high-energy, citrus-driven flavors of his Boston restaurant, Citrus & Salt, to home cooks.
“Citrus & Salt isn’t about following tradition blindly. It’s about embracing the flavors you love—chiles, lime, salt, booze—and elevating them to new heights,” Santos writes. That philosophy drives the book’s opening chapter, which features the dishes that built the restaurant’s cult following, including: Off-the-Cob Flamin’ Hot Street Corn — smoky grilled corn tossed in creamy mayo and crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos; Citrus & Salt’s Guacamole — six-months of perfection in the “freshest, chunkiest, tastiest guac on the planet”; and Bacon Cheeseburger Empanadas with Special Sauce — Jason’s “hot-pocket” of your dreams.
The “Let’s Taco Bout It” chapter pushes beyond the expected serving favorite flavors in unexpected ways. His Short Rib Birria Tacos are braised low and slow, crisped in reserved fat, and served with rich consommé for dipping. The Baja Fish Tacos “Al Pastor” Style offer pineapple-chile–marinated fish in crisp beer batter with avocado mayo; and the Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos are an incredible mashup of Southern heat and Mexican street style. Beyond tacos, the book expands into brunch, seafood, vegetable-forward plates, desserts, and a full cocktail program, reinforcing the restaurant’s party-first ethos.
Later this Summer North Shore residents will not have to travel to Boston for the Citrus & Salt experience and delicious food and cocktails. The new location of Citrus & Salt will be located at 19 Third Ave in Burlington in the Third Ave Shopping and Lifestyle Center. Exuding airy, beachy vibes, this second location of Citrus & Salt will similarly feature bright pops of colors; fun, Instagrammable moments; and artful sugar skulls, flamingos, and flowers craftily hand-painted throughout. The new space will boast an additional private dining room and an expansive patio. Stay tuned for the opening timeline.