TN: Penzey's newest spice creation - BBQ 3000

I know there are some Penzey’s fans here so I thought I would post this note. A few friends and I went to the Penzey’s factory last week and I was given a complimentary bottle of their latest spice blend named “BBQ 3000”. I used it as a rub on some grilled baby backs this weekend. It mostly tasted like paprika, allspice, thyme, black pepper and with a rough aftertaste of garlic salt. Oddly no heat at all and even one of my guests said her kids would be able to eat food seasoned with this because they do not like anything too spicy.

I like many of the Penzey’s spice blends (Fox Point being a personal favorite) but this one just struck me as flat and somewhat boring.

Here is the ingredient list:
Salt, paprika, black pepper, nutmeg, mustard, allspice, citric acid, garlic powder, ginger, sage, thyme, white pepper, cinnamon and natural smoke flavor.

With that list in mind this really should have been better. Oh well…I gave the bottle to the friend who thought her kids would like it.

[Jenise]

Thanks for the warning. How was the factory tour? Did you leave more impressed with Penzey's than before?

You're alive! The bamboo thing had me worried.

[Jenise]

Yes, alive and well, and the bamboo was wonderful. Will definitely do that again.

For years all we had for spice finds were bazaars. We used to have to freeze the spices for a week to 'kill' any creatures that were lurking among the whole spice. What I have always liked about Penzeys is the products are CLEAN sans creatures. I use Penzeys probably every day. I like to make my own masalas using Penzeys and Sultans Delight pantry.

[Jenise]

For years all we had for spice finds were bazaars. We used to have to freeze the spices for a week to 'kill' any creatures that were lurking among the whole spice. What I have always liked about Penzeys is the products are CLEAN sans creatures. I use Penzeys probably every day. I like to make my own masalas using Penzeys and Sultans Delight pantry.

Did you know we have a spice store here?

Thanks for the warning. How was the factory tour? Did you leave more impressed with Penzey's than before?

Hi Jenise,

We did not take a tour (I’m not even sure they still offer them) but I did take a tour a few years ago and was very impressed. It was in the middle of a weekday so it was me and about 25 retired people. The operation is actually smaller than I thought it would be and less mechanized. The blends they make are all made by hand. They also do everything themselves and do not outsource any of the work. For example, if you go into one of their stores everything from the shelves to the counters to the racks are made by a carpenter in their own woodshop. Same with the catalogue. They do all of the cooking and photography right there at the factory. They also have a test kitchen where they create all of their recipes and then try them out on the employees at lunch time. Wouldn’t that be a great job? Working in the Penzey’s test kitchen? Our group got to taste some apple pie they were working on and it was very good. Another thing that surprised me was how small the customer service/order processing area was. Just a few people. And again, not outsourced. If you call with a question you won’t be talking to someone in Bangalore. We spoke with a couple of them and they seemed extremely friendly. One person was even walking a caller through making a meal! Actually, everyone in the company seemed very happy and nice and I was impressed with their organization from top to bottom.

[Jenise]

Thanks for the warning. How was the factory tour? Did you leave more impressed with Penzey's than before?

Hi Jenise,

We did not take a tour (I’m not even sure they still offer them) but I did take a tour a few years ago and was very impressed. It was in the middle of a weekday so it was me and about 25 retired people. The operation is actually smaller than I thought it would be and less mechanized. The blends they make are all made by hand. They also do everything themselves and do not outsource any of the work. For example, if you go into one of their stores everything from the shelves to the counters to the racks are made by a carpenter in their own woodshop. Same with the catalogue. They do all of the cooking and photography right there at the factory. They also have a test kitchen where they create all of their recipes and then try them out on the employees at lunch time. Wouldn’t that be a great job? Working in the Penzey’s test kitchen? Our group got to taste some apple pie they were working on and it was very good. Another thing that surprised me was how small the customer service/order processing area was. Just a few people. And again, not outsourced. If you call with a question you won’t be talking to someone in Bangalore. We spoke with a couple of them and they seemed extremely friendly. One person was even walking a caller through making a meal! Actually, everyone in the company seemed very happy and nice and I was impressed with their organization from top to bottom.

Great to know! I would never have dared picture anything so idyllic.

Did you know we have a spice store here?

Of course not !! Where is it please ?

[Jenise]

It's on...oh darn. Kellogg? Wheeler? I can't remember the exact name of the street, it's either Kellogg or you take Kellogg to get to it and the name starts with a 'W'. It would be a left turn off of Meridien onto the east-west street immediately south of the Costco shopping center above Bakerview. I don't even know it's name, but it has a Spice name (Spice Hut?) and it's owned by Satpal Sidhu, who is a dean at Bellingham Tech and a seriously good person who became a friend recently as we both succeeded through a series of elections that resulted in us both becoming pledged delegates to the state convention for the same Presidential candidate. He's a Sikh and a vegetarian, and cares deeply about spices and tea and that's what he (and his wife) sell there.

I haven't been in the store since it first opened as I'm a dedicated Penzey's customer, but now that Satpal's a friend I need to revisit.

Thanks for the warning. How was the factory tour? Did you leave more impressed with Penzey's than before?

Hi Jenise,

We did not take a tour (I’m not even sure they still offer them) but I did take a tour a few years ago and was very impressed. It was in the middle of a weekday so it was me and about 25 retired people. The operation is actually smaller than I thought it would be and less mechanized. The blends they make are all made by hand. They also do everything themselves and do not outsource any of the work. For example, if you go into one of their stores everything from the shelves to the counters to the racks are made by a carpenter in their own woodshop. Same with the catalogue. They do all of the cooking and photography right there at the factory. They also have a test kitchen where they create all of their recipes and then try them out on the employees at lunch time. Wouldn’t that be a great job? Working in the Penzey’s test kitchen? Our group got to taste some apple pie they were working on and it was very good. Another thing that surprised me was how small the customer service/order processing area was. Just a few people. And again, not outsourced. If you call with a question you won’t be talking to someone in Bangalore. We spoke with a couple of them and they seemed extremely friendly. One person was even walking a caller through making a meal! Actually, everyone in the company seemed very happy and nice and I was impressed with their organization from top to bottom.

Great to know! I would never have dared picture anything so idyllic.

Sounds like a great company like Zappos !! Spice Hut on Kellog in Bellingham marked for next northern visit.

Sounds like a great company like Zappos !! Spice Hut on Kellog in Bellingham marked for next northern visit.

Zappos is great isn't it? I've found shoes there many times I cannot find in Redding, I always look locally first. I am amazed that most times I get upgraded to overnight delivery. One time I ordered shoes at 4pm and twelve hours later, I had them!

I generally stay away from the mixes but I use a lot of Fox Point also- mostly for steamed veg and in eggs-scrambled/deviled - a real convenience. I also use a lot of the Turkish seasoning - great for lamb, chicken, pork kebabs. The Marajaha curry is way off the mark - so heavy on the saffron that it is medicinal and no doctoring cuts it. One other mix that I like is the Prime Rib Rub - very good for roasting beef and a bit in ground chuck makes a great burger. Way back when, Penzey's used to give a small free sample with a mail orders- that's mostly how I got to the mixes.