I loved a recent exchange I had with a Magpie about tortilla chips (see here) — I was raving about MASA brand chips* and she recommended Fiesta Grande. And every time I talk about my obsession with vinegar, fellow vinegar-heads chime in with recs for the best salt-and-vinegar snacks. This led me to wonder — what are your favorite specialty pantry and snack items?
*After I wrote that post, MASA reached out and offered us a coupon code: JENS20 for 20% off!
Below, a few of mine —
WILEY WALLABY LICORICE // MASA TORTILLA CHIPS (USE CODE JENS20) // OLIVE OIL // COCKTAIL SNACK MIX // HOT LITTLE BISCUITS // VAN LEEUWEN ICE CREAM // BRONZE-CUT DRIED PASTA // BONBON SOUR CANDY // BEST MICROWAVE POPCORN // PURE VANILLA // MAINE BEER CO MUSTARD
Below, all of the specialty foods we keep on hand for snacking, entertaining, cocktail hours, and hostess gifts.
01. This microwave popcorn. Absolutely puts Orville R. to shame. I also like their popping corn.
02. The chips we’ve been snacking on nonstop. Use code JENS20.
03. Sour candy mix — obsessed. I received this in a PR package and immediately ordered more.
04. Carolina gold rice! An IYKYK situation.
05. White grits from Anson Mills.
06. This roasted coffee subscription. Landon’s a coffee guy and we’ve tried several brands over the years — this is a plus.
07. Heirloom beans. Did anyone else watch the documentary on Marcella Hazan? She basically put certain foodstuffs on the radar in America, including this brand of bean!
08. The best mustard. My mouth is watering thinking about it.
09. We keep bags of this pasta in our pantry. Believe me, the incremental cost is worth it. A completely different experience, flavor, taste, texture than Barilla.
10. Addictive flavored licorice. I gave these to my FIL last Christmas as a gift add-on — he loves it!
11. Pack of swedish candy that the whole family loves. Landon usually puts this in my stocking.
12. My favorite afternoon drink in ice-cream form. We love VL!
13. Sea salt crackers. A staple for cheese boards, spreads, etc. I really like this brand.
14. Italian crackers. A great little nibble to put out at happy hour.
17. Pure vanilla extract. I read at some point that in a blind taste test, McCormick’s is actually higher rated (!), but I still have a preference for this bottle, recommended by Ina Garten years and years ago. I’ve never looked back.
18. Chocolate-covered apricots.
19. Fun gift — hot little biscuits!
Specialty Happy Hour Snacks.
TORTILLA CHIPS // COCKTAIL SNACK MIX // SWEDISH CANDY // ITALIAN CRACKERS // SEA SALT CRACKERS
P.S. Chic hostess gifts.
P.P.S. Easy but elegant happy hour snacks.
P.P.P.S. It’s a Little Women winter.
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Oooh I love this conversation! 100% agree on quality olive oil, mustard, and vanilla.
Here are some of mine:
– Olive oil from McEvoy Ranch or The Olive Press in CA, or Brightland “Pizza Oil” which has jalapeno and herbs, so good as a finishing oil on pasta as well
– Rustic Bakery sourdough flatbread crackers – perfect neutral cracker for cheese boards
– Membrillo (quince paste) — pair with Manchego cheese
– Tonnino tuna in olive oil — the one in the glass jar
– Bonne Maman jam
– Burlap and Barrel za’atar – mix into labneh, sprinkle toasted walnuts on top and drizzle with olive oil — delicious easy appetizer! (serve with Rustic Bakery crackers or sourdough bread)
– Trader Joe’s sweet and spicy pecans
– Red Clay spicy peach honey — so delicious paired with sharp cheese
– jarred Calabrian chilies
– Trader Joe’s truffle aioli
My mouth is watering now!
YUM, love so many of these but hadn’t heard of Burlap and Barrel! Immediately looking into that —
xx
Teddie Smooth Peanut Butter is my pantry hero!!!
Oooh we love that brand too — I even love that they come in glass jars!
xx
3 more pantry heroes:
Maldon salt
One Trick Pony crunchy peanut butter
Talk of Texas pickled okra mild or hot
Ooo the okra is a great stocking stuffer for Landon — TYSM.
So many things here I need to try as well as so many favorites! Ordering that popcorn!
Some staples around here: Ceremony coffee beans (partial to Mass Appeal and Thesis), Trader Joe’s multigrain crackers (plain enough to work with a variety of cheeses), Meredith dairy marinated goat cheese, Old Chatham Creamery camembert, Bjorn corn, Dove minis icecream bars (the perfect 3-4 bite treat), a fresh baguette (ideally from Bread Furst), Guittard baking discs for cookies, my husband is a huge tinned fish person (lots of sardines and anchovies on hand), nerd clusters (my husband’s preferred energy source during cycling), Caramelo tortillas, Classic Lays potato chips, Evercrisp apples, Donostia anchovy stuffed olives, Marcona almonds
Ooo such great gems in this list, and some new discoveries for me! Thank you. I saw a funny meme the other day that ran something like: “People talk about AI being the greatest innovation of our time, but let’s be honest: it’s Nerd gummy clusters.” I love those things!!
xx
I love this. I’m working on an article about turning your pantry into your favorite sloppy shop, and I’ve been thinking a lot about my favorite speciality goods too! I’d add: Tache pistachio milk (for my non-dairy guests), Haribo gummies in unexpected flavors and shapes (pref German varieties) for gifts/late night snacking, and…hear me out…Trader Joe’s chicken broth. I swear its the best in the box even thought the packaging could use a face lift.
!! Thanks for this TJ tip and YES to Haribo! As much gummy candy as possible…
An apéro is an art since it needs a certain sprezzatura—it isn’t a dinner party and you mustn’t try too hard. 40 month aged Parmesan, Spanish chorizo sliced thin, Schar GF taralli, sun dried figs, olives from our local olive mart and balsamic our buddy’s Italian dad made. Aperol, gin, nonalcoholic spritz makings, friends raiding our beer fridge. The basis of our standard entertaining. Or shallot Boursin and thin crackers (reminds me of my nana), grapes on the side. I usually break up a bar of 70% dark chocolate with mint for dessert (our standard snacking chocolate).
You nailed it — must be elegant but effortless-looking. “Oh I just opened the package –”
I want to come to apero chez vous!
xx
You’re welcome anytime!!
Cin cin!
Grilled olives (in a jar) at TJs are delicious! Bjorn Corn is my newest snack love as are the Ella’s Flats (everything or sesame). My parents always have Effie’s on hand and they are addictive.
Ohhh I forgot Ella’s Flats!! Those are excellent. Landon calls them “those good nut crackers.” xx
Claire, I love those TJ’s grilled olives too. So good!
Clearly I’ve been missing out!!
Rancho Meladuco dates- SO SO Good. Eat by themselves OR wrap in bacon or prosciutto and bake for 20 min or so.. https://ranchomeladuco.com/?srsltid=AfmBOornwhL-_3ktkd29jfiez5I5jVe8SIPkPkwDO2IKstHzPXKE6LVP
YUM – thanks!
Love these recs! I am a HUGE fan of Rancho Gordo beans.. I even met Steve Sando at their store in Napa… AND I am in the bean club IYKYK.
LOVE! You’re a true insider. My husband will be so impressed to hear this detail. He’s been ordering RG beans for years, too, and any time he sees it on a shelf at a small grocer, he gets this “they know whats up” look on his face.
xx
Tell Landon to get on the wait list for the Bean Club at Rancho Gordo, it took me a few years to get in the club! Worth the wait!
OMG! How cool – thanks!
Ooh yes Rancho Gordo beans!!
For my fellow NYers, Bon Bon’s warehouse in Brooklyn is open for retail customers on weekends and it’s much bigger/less crowded than their Manhattan storefronts. A fun weekend excursion for kids (or just the young at heart…me…)
Ooo! Great tip. xx
Fiesta Grande Tortilla chips are FABULOUS. A friend introduced me to them and some things are worth the calories…
!! Going to have to try!!