Inside the Savory Exposure Pantry

and a few words about Mama Rihanna

Photo by Tamanna Rumee on Unsplash

I’d like to welcome many of you who have joined the newsletter after my appearance on Maggy’s podcast, Planetarian Life. You can listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to listen to the soundtrack I’m listening to while writing this newsletter, check out this fantastic BBC show.

Maggy had been witnessing my posts on my personal Facebook page about the many different spices and blends that I’ve been incorporating into my cooking since the pandemic began, and asked me after our conversation to talk about some of my favorites.

Once I started getting down to it, I soon realized that it was practically a newsletter in and of itself. I’ll expand on my conversation that was included in the Planetarian Life newsletter, and given that it’s a very very small part of my overflowing pantry, this will be a regular feature in this newsletter. If you have any ideas on products I should try, please leave them in the comments and hit the heart button to help get Savory Exposure out to more readers.

Big thanks to Maggy for the illustration above, as I personally am still working my way through figuring out Canva and Adobe Express!

In 2018, I made a very long voyage from LAX to New Delhi, India thanks to an amazing airfare I found online. The kicker? It included a FORTY-FIVE minute connection in Guangzhou, China. Suffice it to say, my anxiety was at 11, but I made my connections both ways without issue. I’ll have to say it was sad to go all the way to China and not even have time to slurp a bowl of noodles. Next time!

A stall in Jaipur, India selling saris in 2018. Photo by Broderick Smylie

The products of Brooklyn Delhi take me back to the streets of New Delhi and Jaipur, with vibrant flavors served in the open air. Their products fell on my radar after a knockoff was created by Trader Joe’s and their arrival on Amazon. They have many products but Maggy asked me to pick a favorite and the Roasted Garlic Achaar is divine. It’s concentrated and a jar goes a long way. I love to add it to eggs, pasta and as a flavor enhancer for rice. The companion Tomato Achaar is delicious as well.

Both Brooklyn Delhi and my next company, Diaspora Co. are owned by South Asian women and both deserve their own newsletter issues of their own. Diaspora Co. has so many amazing products, that it was impossible to choose one, but I did my best. Diaspora Co. first gained notoriety with their turmeric, but I believe their Makhir Ginger is one that will live in my pantry for as long as they sell it. The depth of flavor is intoxicating and was one of the spices I shipped to my mother for her to try it (along with cumin and nutmeg). Jamaican and Indian cooking are closely intertwined and my mother loved the flowery scent. If you’re a baker, you also need their cinnamon in your life, NOW.

I’ve subscribed to

illyanna Maisonet

's newsletter for a bit and many of you have also subscribed as it's one of my recommended newsletters here on Savory Exposure. I LOVE the breadth of writers on this platform and I was excited about her cookbook and her line of spices. Sadly, they are sold out right now but keep an eye on Burlap and Barrel’s website for a restock. I love that her blends are salt-free and she recognizes the health issues that many of us in black and brown communities have to work with and it enables me to monitor my sodium intake. I love using the Adobo for a gourmet touch on garlic bread and the sazón is perfect on my air fryer wings.

Courtesy of Omsom

Omsom was launched during the pandemic with two Vietnamese sisters on a mission to bring loud and proud Asian flavors into homes and can now be featured at Whole Foods and Amazon.

I’m lucky that I can head to Super Hmart or Zion Market in less than fifteen minutes and grab already marinated bulgogi, or patronize the many Asian-owned restaurants in my vicinity. Many other grocery stores offer similar flavors but they can be a bit muted. Their sauces are small enough that you could travel with them in your purse or pocket, or fit into your clear plastic bag when going through a TSA checkpoint. The bulgogi sauce packet is my favorite but they’re all delicious.

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We have a little store in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood called Home Ec and it has so many treasures and San Diego-made products that you just have to stop in when you visit. Fear not, they also ship and Carynn has already agreed to appear in a future newsletter. One of her finds is West Coast Koji and their delightful fermented products. I’ve only tried one so far, and their smoked shoyu powder is amazing. Owner Michael Vera chatted about his products with San Diego magazine’s Happy Half Hour podcast about his adventures in fermentation

Essie Spice has a whole collection of African and Caribbean sauces and as a Jamaican and a lover of all things Mexico, their Tamarind-Oh! is the sauce for me that stands out. They recently had this flavor along with the mango chili medley. These two sauces are also in select Target stores, I found mine at the Ocean Beach store here locally. Check the Target app or buy direct from the company!

Photo by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash

Rihanna’s Black Girl Magic shined bright like a diamond

It was a joy to witness Rihanna’s return to the stage last night at the Super Bowl.

The whole country of Barbados, where Robyn Rihanna Fenty hails from, has a population of fewer than 300,000 residents - significantly smaller than the population of Omaha, Nebraska. She reigned on that stage and the backlash was predictable but inspired a playlist that I created today full of strong women from throughout the Caribbean and African diaspora. You’ll recognize the Rihanna tunes, but I hope that you’ll some new favorites of well. One of my favorites is a fairly new song I heard on David Rodigan’s popular show full of reggae music, FIFTY by dancehall icons Tanya Stephens and Patra.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment if you enjoyed this issue!

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