# Going to Penzey's Spices! Must-tries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 16, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856 "2011-10-16T23:14:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/21 "2011-10-17T16:39:09Z")
I haven’t seen this mentioned yet: Buttermilk ranch dressing mix. MMMmmm. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/22 "2011-10-17T18:11:38Z")
Penzey’s proprietary spice blends are great. I like the Mural of Flavor, but another I like a lot that I did not see mentioned: [Northwoods](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysnorthwoods.html). It comes in a spicy version (Northwoods Fire) but I think it’s more flexible to get the non spicy one. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/23 "2011-10-17T18:25:46Z")
They like to tuck a little jar of freebie in with your mail order, and that’s how I found their Turkish Seasoning. I use it on anything to bring about a middle-eastern effect, and it works well. The same happened with their Sandwich Sprinkle. Now I keep a jar of it right next to my salt and pepper on the counter, because I use it on about every other thing that I cook. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/24 "2011-10-17T18:36:06Z")
That’s how we discovered **Pasta Sprinkle** and **Arizona Dreaming**. Both now live on the counter-top. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/25 "2011-10-17T18:59:30Z")
Okay…will get on the mailing list too! ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/26 "2011-10-17T20:14:30Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Fox Pointe, Galena St Rub and Maharaja Curry I read the middle one as “Galena Saint Rub”, and I thought it sounded like a list of porn actresses. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/27 "2011-10-17T20:21:39Z")
We have Szechwan Pepper Salt as a standard seasoning on our dining room table along with the salt and pepper. Great on most any vegetable. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/28 "2011-10-18T03:18:43Z")
Agree that the hot chocolate mix is awesome. It makes great holiday prezzies. Add a small jar of cinnamon or vanilla sugar to go with it. Mmmmm. I don’t mind shoveling snow if I can come back inside to that. Herbes de Provence is great in soups. Hungarian Paprika (the hot stuff) is great but can be inconsistant from year to year Mural of Flavor is good on lots of stuff. I like a lot of their seeds but can usually find them cheaper at the local Indian food store. But the quantities there are usually much more than I need. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/29 "2011-10-18T12:43:49Z")
Seconding Aleppo pepper–it substitutes for normal red-pepper flakes and is a ton more versatile. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/30 "2011-10-18T16:52:32Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > We enjoy their Sandwich Sprinkle for flavoring dishes as well as sandwiches; second place is the Pasta Sprinkle. _cracks knuckles_ Did somebody say Penzeys?! 😃 Sandwich sprinkle, never tried anything quite like it. Seconded! Their hot chocolate mix. Excellent; whisk into warm milk for a real treat. Chip Dip - seconded! Awesome for a veggie dip, much cheaper and healthier than any store dip and fresher. Their Italian dressing seasoning is great, but **Country French** is in a league of its own. It’s the shallots that make it taste like high-end dining salad dressing. I’ve found their prices are the same or lower on virtually all their spices, so don’t hesitate to really go all out. I hate the Fox Point. That’s been my only let down so far. ---
**Author:** ![Dingbang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/31 "2011-10-19T14:41:39Z")
Fox Point is the absolute best thing I’ve ever added to the spice rack. Fantastic on vegetables of any type. Try it on corn on the cob before you put it on the grill. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/32 "2011-10-19T15:42:30Z")
Arizona Dreaming is one of their no-salt blends, I got it on a freebie at some point and I think it’s great. I use that one a ton, on chicken and veggies in particular. One thing I like to do is cut up red peppers and purple onions and simply dress it with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Arizona Dreaming. You can leave it overnight in the fridge to mellow out the onions a bit if you like. Most of the blends are very good – the only one I had that I didn’t care for was “Penzey’s Forward”. A friend asked me if I wanted it, because he “wasn’t using it”. I think he just disliked it. I wasn’t a fan; I think it was too much turmeric. Other than that, I’ve liked everything I’ve gotten. Pasta Sprinkle and Mural of Flavor are noteworthy, and I like their smoked paprika also. Their extracts are also particularly good. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/33 "2011-10-19T16:07:15Z")
Some of these are repeats, but I figure that’s OK because more votes for something means you’re more likely to get it. Maharaja Curry Sweet Curry Ground Chipotle Pepper Sweet Paprika Smoked Paprika Taco Seasoning Double Strength Vanilla Vanilla Sugar ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/34 "2011-10-19T16:09:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I had never heard of this place before. But I see there’s one in my area and now I want to check it out. It’s on Elmwood Avenue, a block south of the co-op. My favorites are the Chili 9000 already mentioned, the BBQ 3000, and Northwoods Fire (put it on popcorn…mmm, think I’ll do that tonight). ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/35 "2011-10-21T17:52:31Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > Hungarian Paprika (the hot stuff) is great but can be inconsistant from year to year > Mural of Flavor is good on lots of stuff. That’s so weird of you to say that; I’ve thought the same thing but figured I was just misremembering or picky. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/36 "2011-10-21T18:11:18Z")
So, I’ve never been in a Penzey’s but I’ve driven past in thousands of times. Hell, I’ve been driving past it for years before I’d ever heard anyone else mention it like it was the second coming. As I skimmed through this thread I saw names like Northwoods, Brady St and Fox Point and thought “Hmmm, those are all names from around Milwaukee (well, Northwoods is a Wisconsin thing)…I wonder if that one I’ve been driving past is the original one” Yup, sure enough, it was the first one. Then, after doing some digging, it turns out that it spun off from another place called The Spice House that I have been to and my family knows the owners of. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/37 "2011-10-22T00:51:50Z")
What a blast…Can’t wait to go back! I got: Buttermilk Ranch mix (so good, even though I made it with plain milk) Aleppo pepper Chili 9000 (using it this weekend, can’t wait!) Vietnamese Cinnamon Cake Spice Galena St Rub Mural of Flavor Ground Pepper Sandwich Sprinkle Cumin Ginger Shallot Salt Green Goddess mix My older son got Rogan Josh seasoning, Chili Piquins, and some curry. Then we went to Trader Joe’s and got a cartful of goodies. LOTS of coffee, olive oils, chocolates…all the essentials of a good diet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/38 "2011-10-22T01:02:02Z")
I had a catalog and just ordered teeny amounts, willy-nilly, whatever sounded good. I got Bavarian blend just from the description, grandma using it on the Sunday dinner of veal, pork, potatoes, onions and carrots, roasted in the oven. Bavarian blend contains crushed brown mustard, garlic, sage, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf, and really good on pork or turkey parts. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/39 "2011-10-22T01:08:46Z")
Did you get any Two Buck Chuck at Trader Joes? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/40 "2011-10-22T01:21:36Z")
> [@papergirl](#): > > Then we went to Trader Joe’s and got a cartful of goodies. LOTS of coffee, olive oils, chocolates…all the essentials of a good diet. 🙂 Post a new thread with the full report. I want to hear how it went & what you thought! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856.md?page=3)