Weekend Shopping: Spices! (or how to spend $35 in 35 minutes)

Spices!

Penzey’s Spices
11322 SE 82nd Ave
Portland, OR 97266
(503) 653-7779

I ventured to Penzeys last weekend, eager to see what I could see (and smell). I manage to do a TJ Maxx/Ross/Pier 1 run every so often, so this was a nice addition to that typical shopping experience.

It was a lot brighter inside than I thought it would be (I don’t know why — for some reason I was expecting some kind of dark, cluttered, spice cave) and there was a very helpful and friendly staff on hand to answer questions and encourage sniffing. While I was browsing, an interesting event occured — a man ran in, practically breathless, announcing that there was an emergency at his house — they were out of cinnamon! It reminded me of what happens around our house when we are out of garlic.

Penzeys

I’m really looking forward to experimenting with all the different curries that I purchased. I am convinced that I can find some kind of combination of jarred curries, along with other spices (ginger, cumin, chilies, etc) that I can make really good curry at home with — CONVINCED, I tell you! So, that will be fun and perhaps a post soon.

Then I went to TJ Maxx and found a cute, black purse. Yay!

2 Replies to “Weekend Shopping: Spices! (or how to spend $35 in 35 minutes)”

  1. Nice pics! There’s a tamale place and a pho place near there that aren’t bad, btw.
    Now, how much would you have saved if you’d gone to Apna Bazaar or one of the other Indian grocers for those spice mixes….

  2. Ohhh…that looks fun. Thanks for the tip on where to find Indian spices and whatnot! I’ll definitely go there soon and poke around. Google tells me it’s here: 815 NW 169th Pl # 6000 Beaverton, OR 97006.
    But, on the other hand, would I have found my black purse if I hadn’t gone to Penzeys? No. 🙂
    Besides, I’m only one generation removed from living in North Dakota (thanks for moving to Chicago, mom!!), so I’m doing pretty good liking and wanting to make Indian food at home…
    ps: i read extramsg all the time — it’s such a great food resource!

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