A Lesson in Louisiana Home to delicious food, exciting celebrations, and jazz music that will make even the self-proclaimed non-dancers do a little shimmy, Louisiana is a hub for vibrant culture. And while said culture has grown exponentially since Louisiana’s founding, we can credit much of what we see today to one of the “first families” of the state: The Creoles. With a mix of African American, Native American, French, and Spanish heritage that can be traced back 300 years in Louisiana, the roots of Creole cult...

Any Barbecue Sauce You Can Do I Can Do Better... First in flight, first in freedom, and first to tell you that their neck of the woods has the best barbecue, North Carolina is famous for its heated barbecue sauce rivalry. But who will you be going ham for? Pig-Time Competition If you want your barbecue sauce to be tangy and sharp with a little kick of spice, you will be cheering for Eastern Carolina. Dressing the entire hog in a thin sauce comprised of vinegar, peppers, and/or spices, Eastern Carolina barbecue sauce offers melt-in-your-mou...

Ways Sazón Is Used In Latin American Cooking Get Your Sazón On A good spice blend can enhance some your favorite meals, but a great spice blend can enhance a variety of meals. That is why our savory, fragrant RawSpiceBar Sazón Blend is a must-have addition to your pantry. A Sazón for Everyone Does Latin American cooking vary between its 33 countries? Yes. Are the distinct flavors created from cross-cultural fusions through time further enhanced by our Sazón Blend? Also yes, and we have compiled a few popular dishes to get you started:...

How French Cuisine Influenced Global Cooking France: A Food Lover’s Paris-dise Ah, France. Home to exquisite architecture, romance, and culinary experiences that are très magnifique. But did you know that you don’t have to book a plane ticket to experience the impact of French cooking? From molecular gastronomy to the creation of restaurants, French culinary influences can be seen today both on and off the plate. The French (Culinary) Empire The roots of degustation (tasting) menus started under the reign of the many King Louis’s fro...

The Top Five Ethiopian Recipes Get out the injera and invite your family and friends over – our top five best Ethiopian recipes are ready to fill your mealtimes with rich, diverse flavor that is never dull. Injera A pancake-like flatbread, injera is spread out on a large flat basket and topped with mounds of spicy meat stews and colorful vegetable curries. Found at every meal, injera is like bread in Europe or rice in Asia. Wat This Ethiopian curry will send your tastebuds straight to Nirvana thanks to its use o...

Bloomed, Smoked, or Toasted Spices: Which One is Best? Great Advice for Greater Spice When it comes to cooking, the word “bland” or “boring” should never come within the stratosphere of favorite meals. That is why food lovers around the world are constantly finding new ways to unlock a world of flavor. Take your favorite spices, for example. Sure, sprinkling them on top of your meals is fine, but have you tried blooming, smoking, or toasting your spices for even more flavor? Blooming with Flavor You don’t have to have a green thumb to bloom your ...

The Battle of the Barbecue What do basketball and barbecue have in common? Everyone believes that their side is the best. In the case of basketball, it’s often UNC versus Duke. In the case of barbecue, it’s east versus west. No matter who you side with, however, one thing is clear: the Battle of the Barbecue is a competition so heated that it can put the hottest grill to shame. Nice to Meat You You’ve heard of the phrase “every part of the buffalo,” but have you heard “every part of the pig except the squeal?” Whole-h...

Do Spices Expire? When to Replace Your Spices. Spices: For Flavor, Not Forever Spices are often accumulated over time, growing as we discover how to season foods to our liking. However, if you were jamming out to a Sony Walkman the last time you went through your spices, it might be time to give the ole’ collection a refresh. Even if your spices are relatively new, everyone picks up a spice container and wonders, “Does this expire?” Shelf Life of Spices Instead of spoiling, spices past their prime lose flavor and potency. They can even ...

A Pepper a Day Keeps Dull Flavors Away Is your spice rack taking over your kitchen? If you were part of the Spice Girls, would your name be Foodie Spice? Then you are in the right place. If you have been looking to spice things up in the kitchen, you will love February’s Xinjiang Blend. A feisty mix of cumin, red Szechuan peppercorns, dried Szechuan chile flakes, black peppercorns and more, this blend can easily become the foundation of some new favorite meals. A Passport for Your Palate While you can go to Paris for fluffy croiss...

I Wanna Moroccan Roll All Night (And Eat Tagine Every Day) Morocco is known for the famed Sahara Desert, exquisite architecture, and flavorful dishes, including couscous, chicken bastilla, and tagine. With contrasting flavors deep in color and rich in taste, Moroccan food is nothing short of a global icon. That is why we are fired up to introduce this month’s blend–RawSpiceBar’s Ras El Hanout Blend. Offering an earthy mix of cinnamon, cumin, coriander, allspice, black pepper, turmeric, and ginger, this month’s spice blend will have you requesting Mor...

The Origin of Xinjiang Blend What do you and spices have in common? (Other than making everything better, of course.) You both have a history! While spices may not have a paper mâché family tree like us, they do have rich origins that lend to their significance. If you are curious about the origins of this month’s blend, we invite you to Xinjiang, a territory in northwest China and the name of RawSpiceBar’s February blend. A Peppercorn for Your Thoughts So, where does this month’s blend come from? While many groups claim...

Taking a Closer Look at Tandoori: Keep Calm and Spice On Every cook has wondered what makes a dish so delicious. By understanding the flavor palate and makeup of tandoori, you are well on your way to making delectable dishes on the daily. Spicy Livin’ | Tandoori is a reddish-brown spice that surrounds your olfactory senses with a bold, fragrant experience thanks to its mix of cinnamon, black peppercorn, and guajillo chiles. The prominent guajillo chiles offer a flavor akin to cranberry and tomato with a hint of smokiness, while the sweetness of cin...

To Sweet or to Savory? That Is the Question. How Will You Lebküchen? Lebküchen often brings images of baked goods decked out in sugar, chocolate, or decorated with almonds to mind. Lebküchen is, after all, the quintessential Christmas treat in Germany. However, the beauty of cooking is that there is always potential to unlock something new. Savory, Spice, & Everything Nice | When it comes to our tasting palate, sweet foods indulge us with the taste of sugar or honey, whereas savory foods are full-flavored and spicy. Does this mean that the two must remain ...

History of Tandoori: Take a Trip Down Tandoori Lane If you have been lucky enough to eat at an authentic Indian restaurant or cracked open a cookbook filled with Indian cuisine, then you most likely know the tantalizing taste of tandoori. Rich, aromatic, and­ spicy, tandoori has the power to elevate any dish to mouth-watering levels when blended with precision. Luckily, this month’s blend–RawSpiceBar’s Tandoori Blend–is mixed to perfection, packing enough heat and flavor to make your next meal unforgettable. But how did this spice come to be? ...

RawSpiceBar Thanksgiving Guide - More Flavor and Less Stress Here is our guide to ensuring you get the most flavor and least amount of stress this Thanksgiving. Get the Guide Monday/Tuesday Monday and Tuesday are all about preparing the brine, making any food that can be prepped ahead of time, and enlisting any help you need from family and friends. Wednesday Wednesday is focused on brining the turkey, chopping vegetables, setting the table, and buying any last-minute items. Thanksgiving Day Thursday is go time. It's time to finalize side dishe...

Step-by-Step Lebküchen Waffles Serves: 6 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons RawSpiceBar Lebküchen Blend ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ cup sugar 1 large egg ¼ cup butter, melted and cooled 1 ½ cups buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, Lebküchen Blend, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the egg, butter, buttermilk and vanilla. Stir to co...