Tell me about that one ingredient, that when discovered, it opened your mind to a whole new world of flavor possibilities!

For me, the first to come to mind is Worcestershire sauce. I’m talking about way back in my youth. It was my first introduction to what we now call umami. When I noticed my mom put it in her meatloaf I began experimenting. At the time I was just blown away by how much it changed things. I even used to put it in my Top Ramen I was so obsessed lol. More recently, dukkah. Trader Joe’s is correct when they say to take bread, dip it in olive oil, and then dukkah. So tasty!!

What about you?

  • Balsamic condiment. I hadn’t realized just how much I was missing out on with more diluted balsamic vinegars. It’s a completely different experience, which is great because balsamic vinegar still has its place in my heart for things like salad dressings. I couldn’t even comprehend the balsamic + vanilla ice cream people until I’d splurged (slightly) on a mid grade balsamic condiment.