Combine 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons pink peppercorns, 1 bay leaf, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Split 1/2 vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape seeds into saucepan; add pod. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Let cool; remove bay leaf and vanilla pod. Serve 1 medium cantaloupe (peeled, seeded, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces) drizzled with syrup and sprinkled with flaky sea salt (such as Maldon).
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