Inspiration / Spice Information

There simply aren't many places in the world where you will find more interesting or beautiful flora than the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens. We took a visit recently and were delighted by the number of spices they had growing there. Unfortunately, most were not fruiting at the time, but the foliage was so beautiful we had to share it. We look forward to visiting again when the plants are fruiting to get more stunning photos.

Several years ago I had the fortune to cook a beautiful, fresh summer dinner in a friend's kitchen in their home just outside of Aix en Provence in the south of France. It was there that I first came in contact with one of my very favorite kitchen tools. There are very few things in the kitchen that I consider 'perfect'. These are things that are beautiful, work well every time and are simple in their design. Of course, my AllSpice rack is one of those things, as is my Shun Santoku knife, but what Im referring to here is...

Scientific Name Bixa Orellana What is Annatto Seed? Annatto is the seed of a small evergreen tree native to South America. Its most popular use is as a deep orange colorant, but it also imparts an earthy flavor to dishes in Latin America and the Philippines. What is the History of Annatto Seed? The Annatto seed has been in use since pre-Columbian times throughout Latin America. It was primarily used as a colorant for food, fabric and body paint. How is Annatto Seed Grown? Annatto seed is grown on a small evergreen tree called the annatto tree. Annatto is primarily...

Scientific Name Ammonium Aluminum Sulfate What is Alum? Alum isn't a spice. It is a family of chemical compounds that contain Aluminum. Alum is sold in the baking and spice sections of grocery stores and is a white powder. What is the History of Alum? The exact history of the alum we use today is difficult to determine because the term Alum has been used for various compounds over the years. However, we know that Alum was being used long before common era. It was mostly used for dying and tanning, but was also used in pottery and as an eastern medicinal...

Yesterday, I heard someone say that they believed that every house in Wisconsin had chives planted in the yard somewhere. It's not true, I had to plant my chives with my own two hands. I get where they were going though, my chives are true stalwarts. They are one of the first things to pop up in the spring and they stay green until November. They add a much needed punch of color to dinners of meat and potatoes through the long Wisconsin winter. When I forget to buy onions at the store, they jump at the chance to add a little...