Spice Up Favorite Recipes with a Trip to Penzey's

I was checking out a new restaurant the other day in St. Louis, and as I wandered out the door after a somewhat so-so meal, I caught a whiff, just a whiff mind you, of a familiar smell. I realized that it was coming from a tiny storefront next to the restaurant. As I drew closer, the delightful aroma grew stronger, until I was standing in front of the Penzey’s Spice store on Manchester, the only one in St. Louis, Missouri. It had been awhile since I had stopped by, so I decided to go in and see if I could replenish my slightly depleted and neglected spice cabinet. The shop is patterned after an old-fashioned general store, with wood floors that creak, and row after row of fragrant spices, all stocked alphabetically. I sort of had an idea on what I was running low on, but there was one seasoning that I just couldn’t remember for some reason. The clerks at Penzey’s are unusually helpful, so I started to describe what I was looking for, though I still couldn’t come up with a name. “I think I know what you are looking for.” The clerk said and took me right to it. The help at this place always reminds me of the aunt that you might call up and ask for help with a recipe: “I’ve got just what you are looking for.” The aunt says. “Just throw in a pinch and stir it well.” After you get what you need at Penzey’s, stick around for a few minutes and browse through the aisles and try something new. With prices that are almost half of what you pay at the supermarkets, you can afford to experiment. With ¼ cup sizes in the $1.50-$3.00 range, you can try first it and then get the larger sizes if you like it.