Hey friends! Happy last Saturday of the year. I hope the last few days have been relaxing, with good food and the best company. There’s always fun and exciting energy when it comes to the end of the year. People reflecting on the year that we’ve had and eager to step into the next. I especially love the end-of-the-year lists with people sharing their ins and outs, their memorable moments, and trends for the upcoming year.
For the past three years, I have shared an annual list of the books and meals that have changed my life. Check out my list of meals in 2021 (below) and books of 2020.
This year, I wanted to add a new list to the mix. I spend a lot of time in grocery stores, markets, and speciality shops looking for fun ingredients that can spruce up my cooking and serve as a gateway to another culture. Welcome to the inaugural list of the ten pantry products that have changed my life in 2023. Stay tuned for the best meals and best books coming in the next 24 hours :)
N.B. Some of the pantry goods mentioned below were gifted and are marked with an asterisk.
Diaspora Co Spices
Website|Instagram
To be a great cook, you need a robust spice cabinet. I’m a huge fan of Diaspora Co spices and have been slowly adding their colourful tins to my pantry. The Surya Salt is essential and a great substitute for Diamond Kosher Salt. I love adding the Kashmiri chilli powder to sauces and marinades for a nice savoury kick.
The Makhir ginger powder and Peni Miris cinnamon are the core of my morning oatmeal. I love the company’s mission and am especially inspired by Sana Jana Kavedri, the founder and CEO. She does an incredible job of sharing the process behind their brand development and the impact of their work on farmers and their villages. Check out their website to find a stockist nearest you or try their “build your own spice shelf” feature and save yourself some money!
Graza Olive Oil
Website | Instagram
Graza’s olive oil is high quality and made with the best olives from Jaen, Spain! I’ve been using Graza religiously for the last 2 years and I just love it so much! The squeezable spout makes it easy to add to your pan or dish without making a mess or overdoing it. It’s well-priced for an everyday olive oil and you can use it generously! We’re such big fans in my house that my boyfriend and I take turns schlepping it to our CDMX kitchen from work trips to the States.
I buy the Sizzle and Drizzle Duo at least once a quarter, that’s how quickly I go through this stuff. Sizzle (their cooking olive oil) is the first thing that hits my pan and lightens up everything from my morning chilli crisp eggs to my dinnertime vegetables. Drizzle is fantastic for brightening up a meal like the final dash on your bougie toast or a good foundation in your salad dressing. For a Graza-filled life, check out their store locator to find a stockist nearest you!
Flamingo Estate Persimmon Vinegar
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One of my favourite places to order gifts is Flamingo Estate. They have these beautifully curated sets filled with pantry and bathroom essentials that can truly make a house a home. What’s even more special is most of the products are made with fruits, herbs, and vegetables from the lush gardens on the estate located in the Los Angeles hills. It’s the home of Richard Christensen, an incredibly talented designer who has this knack for creating exquisite experiences through simple yet sophisticated products. I deeply admire his craft and lowkey want to work for him someday.
This year, my favourite product has been the vinegar made from winter-harvested Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons. It has this beautiful balance of sweetness and tartness and I’ve enjoyed using it in my vinaigrettes, deglazing a pan when I’ve run out of white wine, as well as pairing it with some tonic water for a quick shrub. I also love their tomato room spray and their candles to bring good vibes to any room. Here’s hoping to get to visit the Flamingo estate one day!
Heyday Canning Beans
Website | Instagram
One of my 2023 goals was not making meat the centre of my meal while also making sure I got a healthy dose of protein. Heyday’s beans became my saving grace and are the perfect pantry essential for lazy day cooking. The company is on a mission to change our perception of canned food with exciting flavours and colourful packaging as well as teaching a thing or two about sustainable eating.
I love warming up a can of their enchilada black beans or kimchi sesame navy beans and adding them to a quick lunchtime rice bowl for the heartiest meal. I’ve also turned their harissa lemon chickpeas into a hummus-style dip for a quick snack or appetizer when people come over. If you’re feeling beany, check out Heyday’s website for recipes and a store locator.
The Qi Single Origin Rosebud Tea*
Website | Instagram
As someone who can’t still still, I’ve been trying to incorporate more moments of calm throughout the day. I’ve been starting my morning by brewing beautiful flowers from The Qi, a company that encourages you to feel joy and slow down by savouring a cup of their delicious teas.
I spoke with founder Lisa Li on my podcast earlier this year and she was so kind to send me some teas. I love starting the morning with a fragrant cup of Rosebud tea and watching the petals unfurl as it steeps. After dinner, I’ll steep a cup of Butterfly tea and watch as my water slowly turns blue-violet. It’s sweet enough that you don’t need to add sugar or honey and it is caffeine-free so you can enjoy a nice mug sans guilt before bed. If you’re feeling crafty, you can also use the petals as decoration for your bakes or cocktails.
Bungkus Bagus Sambal Goreng
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I’m always on the lookout for pantry accessories. Condiments, spices, and toppings that I can add for a colourful boost, crunch, or just the slightest kick. I visited Oh Sun Banchan in Seattle earlier and did a generous shop of their pantry section. One of the standouts was Sambal Goreng, an Indonesian medley of spicy shallot, chillies and garlic from Bungkus Bagus. I love the brand and love their story even more. It was started by two LA-based sisters, Celene and Tara, who quit their jobs during the pandemic and started selling banana leaf bundles which then blossomed into this CPG brand.
Since cracking that jar open, I have managed to put it on almost everything I consume. A tablespoon is a great base for a quick pasta dish, it’s brought this new level of spice and crunch to my rice bowls, and I add it to popcorn with a dash of nutritional yeast. I might have to invest in the bulk jar next year considering I’m now on my second jar in 2 months.
Barnacle Foods Kelp Chili Crisp*
Website | Instagram
Reflecting on how much chilli crisp I consume, my conclusion is that it would have to be my desert island condiment. I just can’t get enough and I’m always looking for different variations, ranging from spicy-sweet to flaming hot. My new favourite chilli crisp is from Barnacle Foods, a Juneau, Alaska-based company making kelp-preserved sauces, pickles, jams, and seasonings. I love their mission of using their provisions to educate people on the power of kelp and working in partnership with Indigenous communities to ensure sustainable farming and land preservation.
I met Lia, one of the co-founders, at a Future of Food is You event in Seattle and she was gracious to gift me some products. The Chilli Crisp is a collab product with Chef Taku of Outdoor Chef Life. It’s rich and pretty spicy with salty kelp bits bringing umami into the mix. I especially love it on takeout fried rice, chilli crisp eggs, pizza and tacos when I forget to pick up salsa.
Island Creek Oysters Scallops*
Website | Instagram
This is a tinned fish stan account! From making sardine toast to having mussels with bread and cheese for a post-tennis lunch, I will find a way to make tinned fish the heart of my meal. Pop Up Grocer (PUG) recently invited me to their store to pick some pantry essentials and I leapt at these mariscadora scallops in viera sauce from Island Creek Oysters.
The Massachussets-based company is known for their exquisite oysters and lobsters but they also partner with conservas in Spain and Portugal to bring tinned fish goodness stateside. The Viera is a traditional full-bodied tomato-based sauce so you can enjoy them straight out of the tin. I ended up adding the scallops, with sauce, into a quick lunchtime pasta that I made with another pick from my PUG visit, this delicious whole grain cascarecce from L’Isolina. The Viera sauce added a sweet tang and was a great addition to my quick riff sauce that had capers, garlic, cherry tomatoes, harissa paste, and diced onion.
I’m such a big fan and need to turn one corner of my pantry into an Island Creek tinned reserve. I’m also excited to try some of their other products. Browsing through their site was enough for a summer seafood party in 2024 where guests could shuck and grill their Ninigret Nectar Oysters, make delicious lobster rolls with their pre-packaged meat, and munch on a tinned fish grazing board. Watch this space! If you’re a fan of seafood, check out their website for more info!
Wooden Spoons Magnesium Powder*
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I have never been much of a supplements or vitamins girlie but this year I wanted to slowly incorporate some things of that nature into my routine. I was gifted the Wooden Spoons Magic Magnesium powder by Pop Up Grocer and I think this might be my gateway to the world of supplements. I love everything about Wooden Spoons. Their branding is comforting and the founder starting the brand by tinkering away in her kitchen and selling at Appalachian farmers markets is inspiring.
I’ve been taking the magnesium for the last month, mixing a spoonful in a glass of water and chugging it right before my nighttime routine. I love the spirulina lemonade flavour which makes it easy to drink. I find myself falling asleep so much faster and waking up feeling much more refreshed. Heads up! If you’re considering taking this, be sure to consult a doctor or medical professional to make sure this is right for you.
Mantequilla Miel from Panadería Rosetta
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I’m the type of person who enjoys a restaurant experience so much that I have to find a way to bring some of that joy home. Panaderia Rosetta, the famous Mexico City bakery known for its guava pastries and fluffy conchas, has a line of jams, honey, and other provisions you can take home. On a visit to get my quarterly fix of pastries and carajillos, I picked up a loaf of bread and was drawn to the jars on the counter like moths to a flame.
The server recommended the mantequilla miel (honey butter in Spanish), the pure bee honey with a deep yellow tint that hails from the central valley of Oaxaca. Mantequilla miel naturally crystallises so it has this soft spreadable texture, like butter.
It’s my go-to sweetener and I love adding it to morning smoothies, my peanut butter and banana toast, or even adding a smidge into my vinaigrette for that rich sweetness with slight floral notes. If you find yourself in Mexico City, this is a must-grab souvenir!
Thank you for reading and I hope you have discovered something new on this list. If you had any pantry products that changed your life this year, let me know in the comments below.
Eat well and be well,
Your Friend in Food, Abena