Xilli Salsa Taquera
Considered an indispensable companion to tacos, salsa taquera has a sweet and spicy balance perfect for punching up their flavor. This spoonable one from Xilli has robust flavor and deep earthy red color, flecked with bits of black char from the roasted vegetables for a noticeable smokiness. Chipotles give it an almost chocolatey sweetness and a subtle tang on the finish. Though not overpowering, this salsa does leave a lingering heat that complements any dish it’s served with, from tacos and tortilla chips to chilaquiles.
Xilli Veracruzan Hot Honey
This truly unique hot honey is nothing like the one-dimensional versions of the condiment you may find elsewhere. Single-origin Veracruzan honey gets dimension and complexity from three different types of Mexican chilies, as well as an unexpected twist from an infusion of coffee beans. The coffee and chilies add a deep, tobacco smokiness and fruity, earthy kick of heat, which temper the honey’s floral sweetness. Try it on a charcuterie or cheese plate, grilled pork, pizza, fried chicken and barbecue or in desserts and beverages (we’d love it in horchata or a cocktail)—it packs a bold punch.
Xilli Salsa Seca
A close relative to salsa macha, and known in Mexico as “Salsa De Semillas,” this salsa seca, or “dry salsa,” from Xilli is a crunchy, texturally interesting blend of fried nuts, seeds and chilies. Nutty and salty upon first taste, you’ll find a noticeable heat on the back end that lingers as well as a sweet smokiness from the chipotle peppers. The fat from the nuts and seeds are a nice cushion against the heat from the chili-infused oil, so as to not overpower your palate. With a unique texture and structured heat, this salsa seca makes a great topping for just about anything, almost like you would a chili crisp. Try it on a runny fried egg or drizzled over roasted vegetables.
Xilli Salsa Macha
Salsa macha is not readily available in grocery stores, but it’s worth it to track some down—especially if it’s this one from Xilli, which is made by hand in small batches. It has clear chili flavor— smokey, fruity, darkly roasted without being burnt—and a satisfying, crunchy texture from ground buttery, roasted peanuts and flakes of tender chili. They’re almost confetti-like suspended in the silky oil. The taste is dark and deep, but without any bitterness. Simple, yet still nuanced, it’s the perfect condiment.
Aldo Armato Sun-Dried Tomatoes
The Armato family has been producing fine Italian products, from olive oil and condiments to preserved vegetables and pastas, at their mill in Liguria, Italy, for five generations. If you have these in your pantry, then you will have the finest tomatoes of Liguria all year-round. The Armato sun-dried tomatoes are juicy and sizeable, dried first to express their sweet and compelling flavor before they are bathed in buttery Ligurian olive oil. The tomatoes are picked at the peak of ripeness and preserved in golden extra virgin olive oil pulled from fruity Taggiasca olives. Chop or leave whole to use as a topping for focaccia, mixed into pasta, added to sandwiches, blended in pesto, turned into aioli, stirred into ricotta or incorporated into eggs and omelets. And don’t forget to use the oil they are packed in—infused with the sweet, mildly acidic and salty flavor of the tomatoes, it’s perfect for a vinaigrette or for dipping bread.
Aldo Armato Semi Sun-Dried Cherry Tomatoes in Oil
The Armato family has been producing fine Italian products, from olive oil and condiments to preserved vegetables and pastas, at their mill in Liguria, Italy, for five generations. And their Semi Sun-Dried Cherry Tomatoes are a revelation in sweet-tart flavor and satisfying texture. Harvested in Italy at the peak of summer, these cherry tomatoes are semi sun-dried. The process requires removing them from all heat before fully drying out, so each tomato can stay plump, supple and juicy—unlike the tougher, shriveled varieties in the grocery store. They are packed in the Armato family’s fruity, high-quality olive oil. Chop or leave whole to use as a topping for focaccia, mixed into pasta, added to sandwiches, blended in pesto, turned into aioli, stirred into ricotta or incorporated into eggs and omelets. And don’t forget to use the oil they are packed in—infused with the sweet, mildly acidic and salty flavor of the cherry tomatoes, it’s perfect for a vinaigrette or for dipping bread.
Wa Imports Ramen Noodles
Made in China with wheat flour and egg, these ramen noodles from Wa Imports are delicate and soft, with a perfect tender chew. Requiring only a few minutes in boiling, these noodles absorb the flavor of whatever they are added to beautifully, adding a springy texture to any dish. Plus, their flat shape offers more surface area for ingredients to cling to and makes them easy to pick up.
Yakami Orchard Ginger Marmalade
These well-rounded preserves from Japan have a fresh, bright character, with ginger's sharp bite balanced by the rich honey used to make them. The strips of fresh ginger in the marmalade are ribbon-thin and tender, adding bursts of piquant spice and texture without being overwhelming.
Yakami Orchard Yuzu Marmalade
Juicy, flavorful and wonderfully textured Yakami Orchards Yuzu Marmalade is made with fresh, local yuzu from a collective of family farms in Japan’s Miyazaki prefecture. Balanced out with honey and sugar, this yuzu marmalade is bright, tart and warmly sweet with every bite. Just by opening a jar of Yakami Orchards’ product, you’ll be able to smell the bright and subtly floral aroma of yuzu. We love the plentiful chunks of yuzu rind, which are thinly sliced and add texture without making the marmalade clumpy. The yuzu pieces contribute a pop of piney bitterness that is a pleasant counterbalance for the overall sweet spread.
Chinese Laundry Kitchen Dan Dan Noodle Sauce
Bring dan dan noodles, a popular Sichuan street food, home with this ready-to-use jarred sauce from Chinese Laundry Kitchen. The layered, umami-forward sauce gets its tingly spice from roasted Sichuan peppercorns and nutty flavor from sesame, a classic dan dan sauce ingredient. With a hint of sweetness and warm aromatic spice, it makes a near-instant dinner—just boil noodles and toss with the velvety sauce. But we also like it with other ingredients, like fried tofu or in a green bean stir-fry. Made with 100 percent real ingredients and no additives by a family-owned business in California. Each jar contains 6-8 servings.
Vain Vanilla Original Baker's Blend Pure Vanilla Extract
This small-batch vanilla extract from Kansas-based Vain Vanilla is prepared completely by hand using only the best ingredients. The Original Baker's Blend is made with top-shelf rum that emphasizes vanilla's sweet characteristics and adds its own cane-sugar dimension. We especially love that Vain Vanilla leaves its vanilla pods in the bottle, which has two benefits. First, over time the extract will continue to deepen in color and become more complex as the pods release more flavor compounds. Second, when you're done with the vanilla extract, you can still slice open the pods and use the beans themselves in your desserts.
Shortbread House of Edinburgh Shortbread Biscuits with Rich Dark Chocolate
Many store brands lack the rich butteriness of true Scottish shortbread, ending up too gritty or pasty on the tongue, but these treats are truly authentic, handmade from a family recipe. Each one of these classic biscuits is richly buttery and tenderly textured with the perfect amount of crumbliness—with tasty morsels of dark chocolate studded throughout. The decadent bittersweetness of the chocolate is balanced with sugar and a hint of salt, while the addition of ground rice gives these cookies a delightfully light and crisp texture. Dare we say, they’re better than homemade.
Shortbread House of Edinburgh Warming Stem Ginger Shortbread Biscuits
Many store brands lack the rich butteriness of true Scottish shortbread, ending up too gritty or pasty on the tongue, but these treats are truly authentic, handmade from a family recipe. Each one of these classic biscuits is richly buttery and tenderly textured with the perfect amount of crumbliness—with nubs of candied ginger sprinkled throughout that adds zip and a touch of pleasant chew. Warming ground ginger is incorporated into the dough as well, giving it an almost gingerbread-like flavor, but stays lighter and more lively without the addition of molasses. Their sweetness is balanced with a hint of salt, while the addition of ground rice gives these cookies a delightfully light and crisp texture. Dare we say, they’re better than homemade.
Fat Gold Blue California Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Winner of a 2024 Good Food Award, mild and buttery, this batch of California-grown olive oil is a true team player. Made from extra-delicate, early harvest arbequina and picual olives, it’s perfect for cooking and baking projects that require olive oil flavor in a supporting role. Grown and harvested in some of the best groves in northern California, the olives in this 2022 batch of oil offer tasting notes of fresh cream, dried flowers, walnut and ripe apple, for a fragrant, fruity, mellow blend with no pronounced pepperiness or spice. The bright green oil is made for everyday use as a cooking oil and a finisher; try it for sautéing produce, frying eggs, tossing with a salad or drizzling on pasta and finished dishes.