Fancy Food Find: The Spice Lab
In the “Fancy Food Find” series, take a closer look at some of the treats on display at the 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show.
The Spice Lab is renowned for having the largest selection of gourmet sea salts from a single source. Offering over 240 different sea salts from around the globe, The Spice Lab has an extensive product line including sea salts, flavored sugars, peppercorns, and seasoning blends in both jars and stand-up pouches. The company also offers related goods such as salt plates, stones, glasses and lamps, salt cellars, spoons, jars, and bath salts.
Some of The Spice Lab’s most popular products are as follows:
The earthy truffle brings an intoxicating aroma, heightened level of umami, and rich mushroom flavor wherever it goes. Italian Black Truffle Salt combines that prized delicacy with Sicilian sea salt to intensify any dish it’s included in; some potential dish recommendations include beef, eggs, potatoes, and pasta. I personally love sprinkling truffle salt on neat slices of creamy avocado for the ultimate mid-morning or afternoon snack (to be honest, I wouldn’t mind eating this for a full-on meal).
As delicious as unctuous bacon is on its own, Gourmet Candied Bacon Rub elevates pork to new levels with its sweet and spicy mix of brown sugar and spices. There are four different blends available: New Orleans Cajun, Caribbean Island Jerk, Asian Sesame Sweet & Spicy, and Country Style Pepper. It’s not just for bacon either– the seasoning is versatile on food like sweet potatoes and spiral cut ham. I gave Caribbean Island Jerk a whirl, “a tropical touch of brown sugar, allspice, chili pepper, and spices”. The hot spice mix worked well marinading quarters of bright orange carrots, giving the naturally sweet vegetable a welcome spicy kick.
Spices can be, well, spicy. The tongue-tingling selection alone at The Spice Lab is vast, including Scotch Bonnet Pepper Salt, Ghost Pepper Salt, Smoked Ghost Pepper, Scorpion Pepper Salt, Jalapeno Salt, Smoke Chipotle, and Cayenne Hot Sauce Sea Salt. Perhaps the most infamous of them all is Sriracha, the bright red hot chili paste that’s a long-lasting Fancy Food Show trend. Sriracha Sea Salt infuses finely ground Sriracha powder with natural unrefined sea salt to create a versatile condiment with a memorable flavor and heat.
With free shipping on all USA orders over $35 from The Spice Lab, you have no excuse to not restock your spice cabinet.
— Nicole Woon