The Spice House Evanston, IL.....

I know many avid cooks rave about Penzey's, but I'm a fan of The Spice House. Patty, one of the owners is a Penzey so you're getting the best of both worlds. You can read about Patty over here.

The first thing I noticed when I went to the Evanston store was the intoxicating smell. It hits you like a ton of bricks before you even step inside. I love how the spices are displayed in glass jars and the sales associates weight everything out for you. It seems a lot more personal than shopping at Penzey's. I did go a tad bit crazy, but I rationalize it like this " I dont drink or smoke and I cook every day". So, there you go.

I bought 1oz of each type of cinnamon as I wanted to try them all. I also bought 4oz of Robin's favorite salad dressing mix. I really despise bottled ranch dressing so this is a great alternative.

I've also been looking for Salt-free adobo for at least a year. The Spice house is the only place I've found it.

If you're a fan of Penzey's, give The Spice House a try, you'll be pleasently surprised.