If you happen to travel through Seattle on your way to visit us at the Wood Stone factory in Bellingham, be sure to stop by World Spice Merchants’ fantastic storefront near the famed Pike Place Market. From the moment you walk in the door you’ll be intoxicated by the aromas and sights waiting to be explored. If you aren’t visiting Seattle anytime soon, fear not, as their website is almost as enticing, albeit missing the fragrance.
I went online recently to order some Aleppo pepper, which I use in recipes such as Pizza with Brussels Sprout Leaves, Pancetta, Lemon and Aleppo Pepper, and began browsing the spice blends just for fun. The next thing I know, my virtual shopping cart is overflowing, and in a few days I had to clear actual cupboard space in order to store my treasure trove of delicious, exotic and exceedingly fresh new spices. World Spice offers their blends either ground or whole.
The Ras El Hanout in its whole form is so beautiful combining exotics such as grains of paradise, nigella seeds, long peppers and dried rose petals.
Clearly time to turn on the Wood Stone Home oven. I ground some of the Ras El Hanout and used it in place of the spices listed in Braised Lamb Stew with Autumn Vegetables with delicious results! Next up was Cedar Plank Salmon using the Seattle Salmon Rub followed by Tarragon Roasted Chicken with the Orange Tarragon Blend.
Yum!
~Chef Ann