Ash Creek Oregon Milk Chocolate Hazelnuts
These decadent, chocolate-cloaked morsels showcase the hazelnut’s rich flavor with a sweet and luxurious twist. The producer cultivates the Jefferson varietal of hazelnut—known for its extra-buttery, bold, warm taste and generous size—in the fertile soil of the Willamette Valley. After growing them using sustainable methods on their family farm, Ash Creek harvests the nuts during the final week of October before cleaning them and double-dipping them in premium milk chocolate in small batches.
Graza Co. Squeeze "Drizzle" Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Grown and made in Jaen, Spain, the country where about half the world’s olive oil is produced, Graza uses 100% picual olives for their “Drizzle” extra-virgin olive oil, specifically made for finishing. The single origin olives are harvested by hand in October, when they are still young, green and not fully ripe. Though a bit stubborn to pull off the tree, once pressed, they make an olive oil that is full of attitude, grassy and peppery, with a spicy zip that finishes a dish beautifully. Besides a punchy flavor that adds depth to whatever you add it to, we also love that “Drizzle” is packaged in a squeeze bottle, so you can emulate how chefs cook in restaurants. Use “Drizzle” to finish just about any dish, from meat and vegetables to popcorn and ice cream. And since it’s a finishing oil, be sure to keep it off the heat to maintain its delicate flavor.
Aldo Armato Carciofini Artichokes in Olive 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. Their artichokes are silky, rich and tender, lacking the astringent, acidic and sometimes metallic flavor that canned artichokes have. They are packed in fruity, high-quality olive oil, also made by the Armato family, which gives the artichokes a lovely, smooth texture. Enjoy them on their own, or add to an antipasto board, mix into pasta and salads, or use as a pizza topping. And any leftover olive oil works well for cooking and finishing.
Yokofuku Japanese Black Garlic Paste
Soft and mildly sweet with savory, rich undertones, black garlic is an umami-packed ingredient that sets itself apart from normal garlic, which can be sharper and pungent. Still not found in most grocery stores, black garlic has grown in popularity in recent years as a simple way to add a complex, earthy-sweet boost to dishes. This Japanese Black Garlic Paste from Yokofuku is made from garlic planted in mid-September in Kagoshima Prefecture, an area with active volcanoes that makes for the most fertile soil. It’s harvested in early June, then steamed in a pot to create a constant temperature and humidity, which helps turn its enzymes from white to black—no additives or coloring required. Reminiscent of roasted garlic but a bit sweeter, the flavor is subtle yet deeply rich with tart hints of prunes and molasses. Ready to use right out of the jar without making a sticky, pungent mess of your hands or cutting board, add to sauces, aiolis, eggs, noodles, rice, marinades, meats and more.
Yokofuku “More More Garlic” Teriyaki Sauce
An exclusive Milk Street staff favorite and chock-full of Japanese-grown garlic, Yokofuku’s “More More Garlic” Teriyaki Sauce brings bold, sweet, garlicky flavor to just about anything you add it to. Planted in mid-September in Kagoshima Prefecture, an area with active volcanoes that makes for the most fertile soil, the garlic in this sauce is harvested in early June and combined with soy sauce from the Kyushu region, mirin, sesame and oyster sauce for a punchy, thick final product. Right upfront you’ll taste salty soy combined with pungent garlic, then notes of sweet, nutty sesame, plus a little bit of acid and funk from the mirin and oyster sauce. Use this delightfully textured sauce as a marinade or dipping sauce for barbecued meats, roasted veggies and tofu; toss with noodles and rice or add for an instant flavor booster to soups.
Hot Pot Queen Chongqing Spicy Hotpot Thick Cut Noodle Kit
Whip up a weeknight-friendly meal in minutes with Hot Pot Queen's Sichuan Noodle Kit, crafted by Sichuan masters with a legacy dating back to 1982. The perfect balance of spicy yet comforting, the kit was inspired by a popular street food dish: Here, a rich and savory sauce clings to wide, ribbon-like chewy noodles. Made from a blend of authentic Sichuan peppercorns and regional chilis, the sauce is full of peppery, tingly málà flavor, balanced out by funky fermented bean paste and fresh ginger. Ready in just five minutes and ideal for a quick, hearty meal, this kit beat out some of our favorite grocery store brands by a mile.
Aldo Armato Peperoncino (Dried Red Pepper Flakes)
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 these dried red pepper flakes are in a league of their own—full of flavor and potency that most grocery store versions lack. Fruity and packed with heat (beware to those wary of some spice), each high quality chili pepper used is sourced from Calabria. All peppers are washed and dried in the sun, then blended gently into rustic pieces. Use these flavorful flakes anywhere you want to add a hit of elevated heat, from scrambled eggs, pizza and noodles to vinaigrettes, beans and marinades.