Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

Our Guest Blogger, Bonnie recently visited and fell in love with the Savory Spice Shop located in Corona Del Mar Plaza.  She talked to the owners, took photographs and tried unique spices.  It’s all seen and reported about by Bonnie as follows…

The New Savory Spice Shop in Corona Del Mar is Hot!

Make your Next Dish Savory! is the theme of the new Savory Spice Shop located at 928 Avocado Avenue, in Corona Del Mar (in the Bristol Farms Shopping Center). The owners are the husband and wife team of Randy Morton and Laura Shute. Here’s what they offer:

                                400 herbs and spices ground fresh weekly

                                Over 140 unique hand-blended seasonings

                                Specially packaged gift sets, soups, sauces, dips and extracts

                                Available in amounts from ½ ounce to pounds

                                Everything is available for tasting

After a lot of taste testing, I finally settled on two different kinds of dip. The first is a Taco Seasoning which consists of: Masa Harina, salt, chilies, tomato powder, garlic, cumin, California paprika, onion, white sugar, Mexican oregano and allspice.

The other was recommended by Laura. It’s their Gran Paradiso Cheese Sprinkle Dip which contains a truly interesting combination of spices: Green bells (I have no clue what they are!), Parmesan cheese, salt, toasted sesame seeds, shallots, green pepper, parsley, cilantro and chervil.

Both have now been paired with 8 ounces of sour cream and left to marry over night in the refrigerator. Tomorrow they will be brought to the First Annual Nibbles of Tidbits Super Bowl Party for taste testing. We may blog about it later as an update here.

Apart from being bowled over by all the choices, around half way though my tour, Laura pointed out that not all “spices” are (only) for eating. For example, Frankincense can be lit like incense and is meant to smell like the inside of a Church — A different way to enjoy a spice. On a personal note, I was excited to learn that they carry Spearmint Extract. I have been looking for it over a year!

I must also do a shout out on the interior design, which Randy and Laura did all by themselves. I love the wide plank hardwood flooring, tin ceiling and the brick focal wall. They combine to give the store a warm, homey effect.

Most importantly, what I noticed most about the Savory Spice Store was the smell.  On the day I was there the front doors were wide open, so I caught a whiff of it before I even got inside.  It was such a wonderful delight — something you definitely need to experience.

Thanks for the report and photos Bonnie — I’m ready to hit the Savory Spice Shop.

We cracked up reading several Wine Bags at Cost Plus World Market today.  They have some of the funniest we’ve seen.  Although I don’t need any, I had to buy this one.  Funny yes, no?

It shall be received by the next party host, unless already seen here.

Looking for live Crab, Lobster or Fish?  Have you been to Pearson’s Port?  Don’t forget about the tiny shack tucked under the PCH bridge in between Dover and Bayside.  Since they don’t appear to have a website, read what people are saying about it on Yelp.

Delicioso Restaurant is located inside Endless Food & Fun in Huntington Beach.  Guest Blogger Bonnie previously wrote about it here and as Orange County Food Examiner, I reported about it here.  This post wraps up our report on Delicioso and hosts new unpublished photographs.

The fresh Bread served with dinner at Delicioso was sweet and crunchy. 

And the recommended Rib Eye Steak was smoky and cooked beautifully.

Cheers to Delicioso Restaurant — We wish you many years of success.

Above is the Idol Room where you can sing Karaoke after a meal at Delicioso or while dining on the Buffet.  We haven’t yet tried the Buffet, but provide a glimpse of it below.  Rock on.

Rao’s was on Top Chef tonight — As previously reported, we LOVE their Meatballs and will (most likely) never make another.  The above photo is hanging on the wall at Rao’s Caesars Palace.  When we visited, we met Bubbles who you might see there.  If so, please say hello.

Wish I was at this table – Learn more about Rao’s here.

As Orange County Food Examiner, I just posted a report regarding Endless Food & Fun in Huntington Beach.  It’s also reported about here, and we’ll be adding a slideshow to the Examiner.com review and more photos from Delicioso Restaurant here.

* Photo is of the Chicken Florentine at Delicioso Restaurant.