Blair P. Houghton wrote:
> Woohoo!
>
> Partly in response to the recent hype, I went to the Scottsdale
> Penzey's today (in the strip center on the SW corner of Hayden and
> Osborn). Lovely shop, if a bit faux-rustic with a hint of "yuppie mall
> decor" to it, but, well, welcome to Snottsdale.
>
> Took a friend who had no idea Penzey's even existed, and, well, she
> wants another shopping trip there for her birthday.
>
> I noticed that they do not have those metal cans that everyone was
> going on about a few years ago when Penzey's became a big rfc topic.
> They seem to work exclusively in glass and plastic jars, or plastic
> bags. The nice lady behind the counter also explained that they don't
> sell mortar and pestle sets (though, she added, they get requests about
> three times a week) because they want to focus on the spices. Doesn't
> explain the cookbook and the do-it-yourself gift kits, though...
>
> One thing I didn't know about it beforehand but it makes perfect sense
> now is, for every spice they provide a separate shelf, and on each
> shelf is a large stoppered jar with the spice in it specifically so you
> can give it a little shake, open it up, and bask in the aroma; maybe
> even sneak a taste. Brilliant marketing. When we hit the chipotle, I
> grabbed a basket and started throwing things into it.
>
> Actually, I only ended up with all the stuff I'd picked out of the
> catalog, but the chipotle effect was the catalyst.
>
> The damage:
>
> Almond Extract, (30% alcohol) 4 oz bottle $6.29
> This smells fantastic; very clean. I got it to put in tea, because my
> favorite almond-infused tea doesn't come decaffeinated.
>
> Chipotle Pepper, ground 1.2 oz jar $3.49
> This smells unbelievable. This is what southwest food should always
> smell like. Smoky chili, like you're on a trail drive.
>
> Chipotle Peppers, whole 1 oz bag 3.99
> Three or four pruny, leathery, dried chipotles. The smell of these in
> the sampling jar was almost as good as the ground version.
>
> Ancho Chiles, whole 1 oz bag $1.89
> Two big, flat, leathery dried Anchos. Not as dramatic as the
> chipotles, by a long stretch, but the differences will be apparent in
> cooking.
>
> Guajillo Chiles, whole 1 oz bag $1.89
> Three long pods. I'm interested to see what these do.
>
> Piquin Chiles, 0.5 oz jar $3.79
> There must be fifty of these raisin-sized red firebombs in this tiny
> pot. I tried a small flake off of one, and after about 30 seconds got
> a very nice, very hot but not painful burn going (I was careful to
> examine the flake for seed or membrane remnants; so ymmv). These are
> going to work great with the other peppers.
>
> Cumin, whole from India 4 oz bag $3.09
> I needed some whole cumin to try out in chili.

Did you taste the Aleppo chile flakes?
>
> Net: $24.83 with tax. Only 40 cents tax. Weird, because it means that
> only some of the items were taxed, and the nominal rate around here is
> 8%, and there's nothing that fits...
>
> Anyway. That's my first time at Penzey's, but never my last.

We have one about a mile away. I'm no stranger there. Well, no
stranger than I am anywhere else that is
>
> --Blair

--Bryan