Did you know that you can buy green oregano… not dull brown? Next time you’re tempted to buy a bottle of oregano at the grocery store, closely look at the ingredients. Do you see a bunch of little twigs in there? I never noticed the twigs and random stuff in my oregano before. But, after spending an afternoon at the Savory Spice Shop in Franklin, Tennessee, I’ll never look at my spices again. Once you go to one of their 30+ stores, you’ll never look at spices the same way either. And you’ll be glad for it, trust me.
I happened upon the Savory Spice Shop while checking out the quaint town of Franklin with a friend. Debbie wanted to check on some special ingredients for a unique recipe. You never need to ask me twice to explore a food store!
I instantly fell in love the moment I opened the door and the fresh aroma of spices poured out into the chilly afternoon air. Not only were the spices organized in a pleasing and helpful way, but the Spice Merchants were so much fun to chat with about food and cooking! It’s no wonder that I found myself buying an ounce of Ghost Pepper Salt and a small bottle of Black Onyx Chocolate Sugar.
Toward the end of our shopping, Hollie Rollins, the store owner came bouncing into the shop. Her outgoing and helpful nature made me realize that I need to interview her for Discover Healthy Food. So, I arranged to return the following day and get the real scoop on Savory Spice Shop.
Hollie warmly greeted me and gave me a personal tour of the shop. For a foodie, there’s nothing like going into the back room to see where the magic happens. The chilled storage room was expertly organized to allow the staff to access buckets and buckets of fresh spices. To keep the inventory fresh, Hollie is able to order small quantities from corporate so that she can manage the amount of product moving through the store.
Recommended action item: Take a look at your current spices – how old are they? After a couple of years, you might as well be cooking with dried leaves you’ve collected from the yard. Purge your spice drawer and go online to purchase fresh new ingredients from Savory Spice Shop.
Being able to purchase the spices in various quantities is a boon for the kitchen. If you’re a restaurant that goes through cumin by the bucket load, or the home chef that takes months to use a few tablespoons, Savory Spice Shop can meet your quantity needs – with any spice. It’s a wonderful personalized service you won’t find at most grocery stores.
When Hollie and her husband opened for business in October 2013, their mission was to “help people get good food on the table at a good price and not packaged!” She sticks to her mission of providing the freshest, cleanest, sustainably farmed spices from around the world. When she showed me the difference of their oregano next to a store bought variety, I could see instantly what she meant by high quality at a great price. Green leaves compared to brown little twigs is really no comparison!
Observing the customer service provided by the staff and was really impressed with Chris, the Assistant Manager. A customer was excited to try some new curry powders, yet Chris encouraged her to explore another option… something that she guaranteed the customer would truly enjoy even more than the first choice. Chris didn’t just stand at the counter and ring up the sale, rather she engaged the customer to have an even more enjoyable experience with the curry blends. “I love working here,” Chris beamed with pride, “because I’m fulfilling the needs of the foodie community!”. Her enthusiasm and genuine care for the customer is not to be found at the neighborhood big box store.
A repeat customer confidently stepped into the store with her 11-year old daughter and out-of-town sister in tow. Pointing out her favorite spice to use on everything (Cantanzaro Herbs), she told me that she loves coming into Savory Spice Shop for “the variety and finding things you’ve never heard of… or thought of before!”. The personable service and one-on-one attention is really helpful, but not overbearing. “They explain what you need to know, but then let you go and explore the shop.” It’s one of her favorite shops to bring people to… Wow! Talk about a testimonial!
The shop’s best selling products include the Parmesan Pesto Sprinkle (great on pasta and biscuits) and Capitol Hill Seasoning (for chicken, fish, dairy, and veggies). The Memphis BBQ rub is a big seller – maybe because they’re in Tennessee? One of Chris’s favorite recipes is to sear Mt. Elbert rubbed pork chops then cover in apple sauce and bake.
“Nobody should eat Frankenfood!” is Hollie’s biggest concern about eating these days. People don’t know what’s in their meals, so she’s seeing a movement away from packaged foods. She loves providing ingredients that are easy to use so that cooking isn’t complicated… allowing people to provide healthier food for their families.
Next time you’re in the Nashville area, do yourself a favor and check out the cute town of Franklin. Stop in at Savory Spice Shop get ready for a sensory delight!
I’ll see you at the table!
