Kelly the Culinarian: Food find: Flavorbank spices

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Food find: Flavorbank spices

I sometimes think I have the best profession in the world. Everyday is different and I get to meet interesting, funny and influential people. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer English, the creator of Food and Wine Radio Network and a James Beard Award Winner.

In her newest adventure, English purchased Flavorbank, a spice company that specializes in the highest quality spices available. Despite being the original creator of Emril Lagasse's spice line and supplying spices to the stars, Flavorbank was on the brink of bankruptcy when English bought it up last year.

Anyhow, on to the food! This little shop she's got is absolutely amazing. It smells spicy and pungent and it's as much a feast for the eyes as it is for your nose. It's so easy to become inspired when checking out the story. English sells as little as a teaspoon of spices at her loose spice bar. The store also has an array of exotic salts, some of which are picture above left and below. She also sells dried chilies, which you see below.

Jennifer was nice enough to offer up some cooking tips and trick for using these spices, some of which I've tried and will be sharing shortly. Today's tip: Salt needs its own kind of grinder, one with ceramic mechanisms, otherwise the moisture in the salt will corrode the inside.



The final photo is the assortment of spices that Jennifer set me up with. The best thing I've learned so far is that it's super simple to cook gourmet when you have spices like this on hand. I haven't changed my cooking techniques at all, I've just added high-quality spices from the store that dubs itself as the Cartier of peppercorns.

10 comments:

A Mature Student said...

It would be handy to have this kind of shop near me. At the moment, I buy my spices in jars from supermarkets or Chinese grocery shops and they lose their flavour/scent too quickly.

FH said...

OH!! I would love to live in that store forever!!:D

Sylvia said...

What a great store,my consumer dream. I actually love spicy. And I used a lot.

tigerfish said...

Hmmm...I hardly get any spices as they don't keep long in the dry pantry. I usually keep them in the fridge after opening a packet hoping to extend their "life". I wonder if it is the right or wrong thing to do :O

Stella said...

spices are indispensable in our kitchen. You're lucky to have such an assortment of them especially packed in such pretty bottles!

WokandSpoon said...

That looks like a fantastic spice shop! Wish I had one like that here!

Marianne said...

I could almost smell the store after your description! I bet there is a lot of eye and nose candy in there!

People St.Clair said...

can't wait to hear the tips you share for spices. great post and the store and site are fabulous.

Cate said...

Looks like a dangerous shop to be let loose in! :)

one La vida owner said...

the place is amazing, I love to go and get spices and wrap them with a ribbon and give them out at the holidays. My favourite one is the "afrikya berbere spice" I marinate meat in this and the flavour is so intense and amazing!! This is the spice that they make BBQ sauce out of... you must try it!