Penzey's

While the lines are longer and the parking lots more crowded down the road at Stew Leonard's, real foodies know that the true food mecca on this unassuming stretch of Route 1 is one of the very few Penzey's retail outlets. Penzey's is a palace of spices, sold whole, crushed, ground, in bags, bottles, jars and cans. They take spices seriously, offering several types of dried basil with labels that hint at the subtle differences each region imparts. The selection is excellent, as our the prepared spices mixes, which capture the essence of regional cooking. Cajun spice rub, Jamaican Jerk rub, Mexican adobo, Memphis ribs, etc. And the staff is helpful at identifying recipes that put your new purchases to best use. A destination for any serious home cook! more

People who cook know Penzey's - through their catalog they have built a reputation for quality. We in Norwalk are the envy of serious cooks as we have one of the elusive retail branches of Penzey's right here. It is not much to look at , but once inside you understand. You are in Seasonings Nirvana, there is everything, several types of curry powder, sever types of cinnamon, Penzey's blends (I like Greek seasoning & the Singapore seasonings). Lately I have been giving as a housewarming gift the mini spice sets - always a big hit. The staff are Super helpful and will advise you on whether hungarian paprika or smoked spanish paprika would suit your need better. more

I had driven past this shop so many times and never stopped. Finally, I pulled in to explore. This is a store entirely based on selling herbs and spices. It is an amazing education talking to the sales staff, smelling the different condiments, and reading the suggestions on how to incorporate them into your cooking. Surprisingly the prices are great. I expected a huge surcharge but I found the prices to be less that I would pay in a supermarket! And everything is fresh and of excellent quality. more