Ever since I arrived in Australia I’ve been cooking with one spice / spice blend or another that came from Herbie’s Spices.
After moving to the Sunshine Coast a few years ago I began going to Friday cooking demonstrations at the How to Cook store in Cotton Tree. It gives me a chance to chat with other food lovers (mostly women) because working alone can leave you with heaps of unsaid words. My friend Iris Windsor who owns the store and does most of the demonstrations often uses Herbie’s Spices in her demonstrations and we’ve never been disappointed.
The owners of Herbie’s Spices, Ian and Liz Hemphill recently did a tour of Queensland and I was invited to lunch.
We gathered at the Spoon Deli in Fortitude Valley and Liz Hemphill walked up to me and said, “Hello, I know we’ve met before, let me think where.” That’s a bit tricky because I was pretty sure I’d never met her. We were both right. When I was on the food bloggers vs traditional media panel at the Noosa Food and Wine Festival this year, Ian and Liz were in the audience.
I’d been invited to the lunch by PR whiz Brooke Simmons, owner of Pursuit Communications in Sydney. I was really pleased to be invited but I don’t often pop up in ordinary conversation amongst PR executives. I’m a long way from the movers and shakers in Melbourne or Sydney. I couldn’t help myself and leaned over and whispered to Brooke, “So… why was I invited?” (I live on the Sunshine Coast about an hour north of Brisbane.)
“It’s funny, Maureen, my mother reads your blog and she told me I MUST invite you.” It’s wonderful how things work out sometimes.
Meeting the owners of Herbie’s Spices was great fun. Both Ian and Liz know everything about spices and they instantly made us all feel like old friends. Even with all their success, they man the Herbie’s Spices shop in Rozelle (Sydney) every Saturday if they’re not traveling so they can keep up with what their customers need or want. They’ve travelled the world searching out new products for food lovers like us.
Ian’s family was in the spice business when he was growing up and his school nickname was Herbie and that’s where the business name comes from. Liz knows spices because she and Ian have been together for 40 years or more.
I can’t remember how the conversation began about taking about taking children to restaurants and Liz said that when her children were nearing their teenage years, the grandparents were babysitting and the kids asked to go to this restaurant called McDonald’s. The children were mortified when grandma asked for knives, forks and the McDonald’s wine list. You know when you can listen to stories like this, it’s an enjoyable meal.
Then the food began to arrive. All the items on the menu were prepared by Spoon Deli using Herbie’s Spices. To get our appetites going we started with olive sourdough which we dipped into herbed olive oil and rosella vinegar and then into Herbie’s Za’ataar. I knew better but I couldn’t leave it alone.
On the menu were pumpkin & Herbie’s Dukkah sandwiches, egg, lettuce & Herbie’s Curry Mix sandwiches, Moroccan sausage rolls infused with Herbie’s Portuguese Seasoning with roast vegetable cous cous and finally muffins made with Herbie’s Spice dust & freshly whipped cream. It was a perfect lunch and the folks at Spoon Deli never let our glasses go empty and there was never a time that the table wasn’t heaped with food.
My photo card died so this group photo was taken by someone else and offered to me to post here.
There were several food bloggers at the event and Ian and Liz wanted us all to go away knowing more about spices than we knew when we arrived. That was certainly the case where I was concerned. As a thank you gift for coming, each of us received complimentary spice or spice blend packets of Herbie’s Spices and a lovely Curry Essentials Spice Box.
Do you like spices? Herbie’s Spices has offered one of my readers a Curry Essentials Spice Box, assorted spice and spice blend packets, and a Spice Dictionary. The contest is open to anyone on Earth so don’t be shy about leaving me a comment before the 13th of July to tell me what your favorite spice or spice blend is in order to enter the contest.
Herbie’s Spices are available everywhere in Australia and they’re even sold in California at Williamson Wines at the shop or by mail order to anywhere in the states. You won’t be disappointed – the spices are fresh, well packaged and they are what they say they are and nothing more. I use Herbie’s spices nearly every day because they help me to produce meals that are full of flavour. Ian and Liz Hemphill take such pride in producing a quality product. You can see it in every word they speak about spices.
Liz told a story about two friends who are chefs chef being invited to their place in the country for “a sleepover” and one called and asked if a friend from France could join them. Liz said sure and who should turn up but a lovely woman who turned out to be the former personal chef of French President Mitterrand. She served this lamb roast to them and I can see why.
It was simple to prepare, no stress cooking, fork tender and delicious to eat. John’s dad has arrived for another visit and he ate this roast until I was sure he was going to pop. It’s the first time he’s not asked for dessert – he didn’t have room.
- 1 lamb shoulder
- 1 packet Super Ras el Hanout spices
- 1 large onion
- Preheat oven to 200C/400F
- Rub lamb with the spices using a lot if you like a lot of spice or a little if you want the roast lightly done.
- Slice onion and place in a lightly oiled baking pan.
- Place rubbed roast over the onions and place in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 100C/212F and cook uncovered for 8 hours (or even longer) until the meat falls off the bones.
- Pull apart using two forks.
I was invited to lunch with Ian and Liz Hemphill and other bloggers and they provided this prize but did not pay for my comments. Those are all mine. If you’re a spice lover, please “like” Herbie’s Spices on Facebook and follow Ian @Herbiesspices on Twitter.
Your lamb looks so YUM Maureen, true!
Is only brekkie, but could go for tasting some of that right now too!
I LOVE Herbie’s Spices and look forward to when next he is in Adelaide for his spice classes…what a great class to get invited to!
I LOVE Herbie’s Curry Essentials Box…GREAT foodie pressie!
I’d love a spice class with Herbie too! Adelaide is too far to walk for me though. 🙂
I suspect for the first line of the instructions you meant 200C/400F (rather than the other way around – such an easy mistake to make). Although I’m a big fan of pink lamb, I’m an even bigger fan of long-cooked, well done lamb – it develops such wonderful flavor. Great recipe, and I love the use of Ras el Hanout. I’ve never herd of Herbie’s Spices, but they sound superb. And what a generous giveaway! My favorite spice is probably is cinnamon, and I love to use it in savory dishes as well as sweet. Although cumin gives it a good run for the money. Thorough enjoyable read – thanks.
LOL I’ll go fix it 🙂
one of my fav. spices is fennel seed. I add it to biscotti when I make them and I like to add it to a red pasta sauce when I use ground pork or sausage meat. 🙂
Oh Maureen, I am a HUGE fan of Herbie’s, having welcomed Ian and Liz to Canberra many times when I co-owned the cooking school! I could listen to Ian talk about herbs and spices for hours! And have had the pleasure of watching him cook too. Love Herbie’s Spices, so fresh and such high quality. My favourite? Wow, I love all of them… the Za’atar is up there… as is the Ras el Hanout… oh and the noble sweet Hungarian paprika too! I think my absolute favourite is Herbie’s ground cardamom… mainly because Ian once cooked his cardamom caramel bananas with cardamom… it’s still a favourite at our place… I blogged it too! http://www.bizzylizzysgoodthings.com/2/post/2011/08/the-honeymoon-sweet.html
I think in 2011 I didn’t know you, Liz. Thanks for the link to the Herbie’s post 🙂 I think I might have to make that soon. I have some really fresh cardamom in my “kit”.
Hi Maureen! CINNAMON is easily my most favourite spice. I use it daily in my savoury and sweet cooking. One of my favourite things right now is to make a raw cacao, honey and cinnamon hot milk drink. And it has so many health benefits as well. Cheers Natalie
Hello Natalie, that hot milk sounds so good and it’s late and I’m cold and it would be perfect right this minute.
I love Herbies and look for their stand in every outlet. I have so many of their packets on shelves in my pantry. I’d have to say my favourite would be Chinese Five Spice – I was just looking at Charles’ blog (Five Euro Food) and he’s done a Peking Duck style dish and I’m going to make it – and I’ll need plenty of five spice for it! Your writing is so good, Maureen, you always make me wish I was at all these events with you! xx
I have to confess that I’m a bit of a spice ‘wh&re’ and just want to take a bit of everything when I go to the Bulk Barn where I used to buy most of my basic of spices. I have since progressed to buying them at Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern grocery stores. My favourite spice is cumin. I have big jars of the whole and ground stuff for convenience and use it in a lot of my cooking.
I’ve heard of the ras el hanout, the rose petals stood out in my memory, but even the local Middle Eastern place doesn’t have it. I have a leg of lamb in my freezer but if I had a shoulder, I might try to whip up a nice spice blend to use and try making this. Maybe a pork shoulder would do as well … the pulled pork I made that I used in my tamales was amazing and so inexpensive so I wouldn’t mind a little experimentation.
I really love cinnamon. it is great in all sorts of dishes sweet and savory. i like to use it in chilli for instance as it gives a great flavour zing. you can whack it in curries or hot chocolate or fruity desserts like lemon rice pudding. i have so many favorites! saffron; paprika; ground coriander and cumin for curries; black pepper in everything savory. it goes on and on!
Chilli – in all shapes, forms, types and sizes – hot hot hot hot hot hot babeeeee!
Gosh- this is a hard one to answer as spices are so central to my cooking and baking. I am a huge fan of Herbies and have given many of his spice kits as gifts- his shop is an absolute treasure trove. If I had to choose a favourite though is would be the quatre epices sweet blend- it has cemented a tradition amongst my family and friends as I use this spice mix to make speculass every festive season.
I know I shall probably sound like a proverbial parrot but I am a HUGE Herbies fan also and that box looks just unreal! I have usually bought on the phone from the country and have found the staff in the Rozelle store so very helpful and friendly. Somehow an extra packet or two I did not order would always arrive as a very welcome gift . . . Ian and Liz used to run these fabulous spice tours until just recently: some years ago I seriously thought of putting my resources together and going to Kerala and onwards. Well I realized that with my back Iwould probably be a nuisance and slow others down: must say ‘Herbie’ wrote the kindest letter back in spite of that!! My favouite: all the curry mixes, but , most of all, the best Egyptian ‘Dukkah’ I have been able to buy here!! Methinks my ras el hanout may be out of date, but that lamb looks delicious!
Herbies are brilliant, love their spices though usually, we buy them in bulk from the Indian shop 😛 The lunch looks so fantastic, what a great way to enjoy food and meet new people 😀
Lovely looking lamb as well, slow roasted and seasoned to perfection!
Cheers
CCU
Awww I LOVE Herbie’s Spices!! And that box looks sooo pretty! I love many spices but if I really had to choose, I would go for nutmeg for savoury dishes and cardamom for sweets. Nutmeg reminds me of my mamma’s meatballs, sweet childhood memories of when I was still back in Italy. Cardamom represents the other half of my family, my husband and all the Indian food I discovered after meeting him!
I think that lamb looks amazing!
What a cute comment, Manu. My mother used nutmeg in her meatballs too but they weren’t Italian. 🙂 I don’t think they were any cuisine in particular other than “Angelina”. LOL
My husband doesn’t eat lamb. I always tell him that if he tried a properly seasoned and cooked lamb shoulder he will change his mind .
My favorite spice has to be cinnamon and my favorite spice blend is zaatar. I don’t think I can do without either of them in my kitchen
no lamb? I could understand that if you were in the states because it’s not a hugely popular dish but I would have thought it would be common in Jordan. He would have loved this one, I’m sure 🙂 We have now eaten it as shepherd’s pie (Jamie Oliver’s recipe) and I think it was just as good on day 2.
Since my friend Linda and I began putting a recipe book together from our passion of Cooking Without Numbers, I have been on a learning journey enjoying new and wonderful spices – some I have never tried before.
I have become fond of cinnamon, cardamom, and now my list grows and grows. I love the idea of the spice dictionary – what a wonderful way to learn about terrific flavours!
Really enjoyed your blog and pleased to now be linked with you and Herbie’s Spices on Facebook.
Cheers, Debbie
http://CookingWithoutNumbers.com
How nice to meet you, Debbie. I’m glad we’re friends. I’ll go return the favor right now!
My favourite spice would be either cumin, or cinnamon or coriander, cant decide so better go for ras el hanout the best of everything
The only thing better than ras el hanout is super ras el hanout with 30 spices 🙂
Thanks heaps for coming by, Jason!
My favourite spice or spice blend – I have been sitting here for ages because I could not pick just one or even one blend – but the one I find I cannot substitute is allspice and it is an essential ingredient of the pumpkin chutney that I make which is a family favourite – so for me it is allspice…..:)
Hi Sharon – do you share that recipe? Pumpkin chutney sounds amazing!
M, please don’t enter me, as I already have the book and most of those spices. But aren’t Liz and Ian just the nicest people? I’ve been buying from their Rozelle shop for decades, and they really do have the freshest spices. Their chermoula mix is our house blend..which reminds me, I need to get some more! 🙂 xx
Have just discovered your blog thanks to Maleny Dairies and am thoroughly enjoying it. Have already got my husband and mother on to it too!
We love Herbies spices as well. We discovered them years ago when we were attempting to make a Mexican pork dish that required annatto seeds. When we asked for the seeds, most people just looked at us with a puzzled expression, but Clayfield Markets ordered them direct from Herbies for us. In the end the pork was amazing and we have been Herbies converts ever since!
Kristy! I’m pleased to meet you. If you’re ever near Minyama, let’s meet for coffee. 🙂
I love Herbies 🙂 Tyler bought me one of their packs and I use the hell out of it!
I’m a sucker for spices. If I had to chose one, I’d pick the coriander seeds – I sprinkle them liberally in my beef jerky mix 😀
I like coriander seeds too. I especially like them when the coriander goes to seed and the seeds are really green.
I have to confess I’ve never heard of Herbie’s spices, but that spice box has won me over. What a great range! My favourite spice varies all the time but I’m quite fond of harissa just now 🙂
Herbies’s spices are so good! I have so many packets of them in my spice cupboard-even doubles in case I run out! 😛
Adore Herbies, and your post made me realise that I gave credit for Herbie’s black lime powder to the Essential Ingredient in my last post – bad Jas – will have to fix that. Ras el hanout is one of my staple spice mixes (Maha does a great version, but I also have Herbies ras el hanout in my cupboard too!) but my all time favourite spice is saffron. I’m always amazed how strong the flavour is from such few little saffron strands, and it is gorgeous in both sweet and savoury foods. When I was in Morocco I bought a 250g packet of Saffron for $10. Funnily (or annoyingly) enough, I got the saffron back to Holland (where I was living at the time) and it got stolen from the communal kitchen of the student house where I lived. I’ve lamented about the price of saffron ever since 😀
Herbie’s spices really sound interesting…I wish they had a store here in Mumbai too! the food looks fantastic. Seems that you are very popular!! It feels so great when people recognise you by your work! Way to go, Maureen!!
What a great lunch to be invited to! I love that spice collection and would want cumin to be included. It is one of my favourite flavours ever.
I really like Herbies spices, but I LOVE the look of the lamb and the spice kit!
YUM! Herbs and spices are so essential to cooking an amazing meal 🙂
I am one of the few that haven’t heard of herbie’s spices either…but when it comes to cooking I can never have enough adventure excitement or spice in my life. I love mixing sweet and spicy, savory and tangy, and just about anythingthat makes the tasters mouth go crazy! I’m always game for trying a new spice packet send that box looks just like the keys to the kingdom!
Thanks heaps for coming by, Ed!
What a lovely event indeed! Herbie is such an iconic culinary character, and it’s nice to hear that he’s such a nice guy too 🙂
I love using dishes to bring dishes to life, and have so many loves amongst them… But pepper is the one I use every single day. It’s still the king of spices, just perhaps not the most glamorous!
I LOVE spices, and I’ve never heard of Herbies, so thanks for the review! Choose my favorite spice? Oh that’s nearly impossible. But I suppose my go-to flavor is spicy, so I’d have to say cayenne. Thanks for the giveaway!!
Hi Heather and thanks so much for stopping by. Cayenne – you’re a tough cookie!
I’m so glad you were invited to this event! How fun and inspiring. 🙂 I’d never heard of Herbie’s spices until I moved to Oz, but I love them too. 🙂
Oh the Lamb! yummmmmm! What a fun event to be involved in ! My favorite spice I think is cinnamon, I use it everywhere for a touch of flavor that’s not overwhelming, but is bright and fresh and makes people actually ‘ask’ for the recipe!
Cinnamon is my fave too 🙂
Choosing only one favourite spice is sooo hard! Its more about the quality, my preference is always to use whole spices, take the small extra time to process as needed. If I had to choose though, one new favourite is Nigella Seeds. I release their exotic aroma in a little heated ghee, then sauté diced onion and red pepper , add wilted baby spinach leaves, then pour in organic scrambled egg mixture and cook till light and fluffy. Sprinkle a light dusting of paprika before serving with lightly toasted organic sourdough Spelt slices.
Yum! That sounds so good.
I LOVE cinnamon!It goes with everything from baking to grilling meats!!!!
me too.. it would be my favorite spice
What a fun time you had Maureen. The spice blends look amazing, I wouldn’t know where to begin but it would be a delightful dilemma to be in! I love the name of the spice blend you used on the lamb, it has to be wonderful with a fancy name like that!
I love all sorts of different spices – and trying out new flavours is one of my favourite activities 🙂 My most recent favourite is sumac, discovered in Turkey, which is really like nothing else I’ve tasted.
That lamb looks divine!! Love lamb.
Never heard of Herbies spices till today. They look first rate!
But spices I love and adore.
My favorite spice is tarragon.
Back in the early 80’s I had never heard of tarragon, let alone used it. But I had a brand new cookbook, Cooking For One Is Fun, by Henry Lewis Creel. This is the cookbook that made me a cook. But that is a story for another day.
Back to tarragon. I made several recipes from this book and loved them all. They just kept getting better and better.
There was a chicken recipe, Chicken in Tarragon Sauce, that I wanted to try. As I said above, had never tired tarragon before but wanted to; I was willing to because there was not a bad recipe in the book.
So I went out shopping and found a jar of tarragon. The recipe specifically listed dried tarragon for the recipe.
Well, the rest, as they say, is history. A beautiful life long love affair with tarragon began. And I have to say, this love affair has lasted longer than many of the men in my life. Spices as a substitute for men. What can I say?
I use the herb in many of my recipes. And now that fresh herbs are more readily I often use it instead of dried.
Long live spices! Long live herbs!
Long live tarragon.
Maureen, I think it’s wonderful to have an array of spice blends at your fingertips. I’ve tried the long, drawn-out (albeit flavorful, aromatic, and totally worth the effort) method of toasting spices, blending them, etc. but Herbie’s apparently takes the work out of it and leaves all of the flavor — plus time to anticipate / appreciate what’s cooking! My favorite spice is… oh yikes… I have a multitude of “favorites.” Anything hot. (Cayenne, dried red pepper flakes, etc.) Thank you.
I’m not at all familiar with Herbie’s Spices, Maureen, but I sure would like to get to know them and that lamb shoulder better. Slow roasted lamb is the best and yours looks like it was perfectly cooked. Thanks for introducing us to this line of spices.
Sounds like a fun event you attended. I’m not familiar with Herbie’s Spices but I do love how tasty your Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder looks. YUM!!! Thanks for sharing Maureen.
The lamb was wonderful and it was just as good on day two. 🙂
yummi spices i love spicy food and i really enjoy with hot and read chillies green chilies yummi sound like fun and enjoy with friends thanks for the sharing this moment and your thoughts…
Thanks so much for coming by and leaving a comment, Sadia!
What a nice giveaway! I have entire shelf in one of my cupboards devoted to spices… this would be awesome to win! Thanks a lot!
When my sister was here she labeled my spices so I can find them more easily. She did it as a surprise so I wouldn’t forget her every time I opened the drawer. 🙂
It looks like you are always invited to such fun things Maureen! My favorite spice has got to be cinnamon.
I was certainly lucky with this one, Eileen!
I have not heard of this company but it sounds awesome! This looks like such a wonderful event and everyone looks like they are having so much fun. I use a lot of fresh and dried Basil so it is top on my list. I also absolutely love Marjoram and Rosemary.
I’ve been to lunches before but this was the first time anyone wanted to get to know me. 🙂
What a fantabulous event, Maureen! I would love to attend one day. Oh, I must visit Australia to do so. Perhaps, one day:)
You are so right about lamb being under used here in the states. I happen to adore it and of course, the Rosemary that often enhances it:)
GREAT Spice Give-away. Please send a note of thanks along…
Thanks Louise! You must visit Australia. I know it’s a long trip but oh so worth it. My sister just visited from New York and she survived the journey home, so you should come!
It’s on bucket list, Maureen. And you just never know:)
What a fantastic spice collection!
it’s pretty nifty!
This looks like such a great event and WOW what a spice collection. Everything looks great.
It was a lovely day.
That looks just wonderful Maureen – wanted to tell you that, even though I likely can’t enter giveaway because of being in the US. And the curry set is brilliant!
Donalyn! You didn’t read the post carefully enough. Anyone on EARTH can enter so I think the US qualifies. 🙂 Herbie’s spices can be ordered from their supplier in California if you win and want a repeat.
what a mighty fine giveaway and look at all those spices! I would be in heaven! Love it! my favorite spice of theirs is the nigella seeds
I have only used nigella seeds just once. I need to lift my game. 🙂
I want a Herbie’s near me! Boy does your lamb look wonderful…the hubby has learned to love lamb after trying my mom’s garlicky version. I love your simple recipe.
Let’s see…favorite spice? Has to be cinnamon…so yummy in my fruit pies, not to mention sticky rolls 🙂
I’m a long way from Herbie’s store in Rozelle but there are three shops nearby who stock it. I love cinnamon too. Hubs is Australian and I think it’s a rule you have to love lamb if you’re born here. 🙂
Yum, that looks delicious! I think ginger is probably my favorite spice to cook with it. I am not familiar with this brand of spices but that case is pretty.
I like ginger a lot but mostly I use it fresh. I need to work on powdered. 🙂
I love anything with garlic in it – so Italian blends and Greek blends work for me.
Ooh yeah 🙂
Dear Maureen, This sounds like it was fun!! I am happy that you get to do all of these fun foodie events!
I bet that slow roasted lamb shoulder was DELICIOUS!! enough for the President of France. I haven’t had lamb in a long while. I bet dipping bread in that sauce was heaven.
Maureen picking a spice is a stumper for me…I don’t want to offend the spices in my kitchen so this is a toughie…I will say, garlic powder, dried oregano, cumin, curry, paprika, sea salt, fresh ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, turmeric oh this is tough….I hope that I didn’t leave any out.
I never new of all these delicious flavors until I started being a foodie, now I am constantly creating and loving every minute of it.
Blessings dearest and a hug, Catherine xo
HI! My favorite spice to use is cinnamon in baking!! (And favorite herb is rosemary!) I liked Herbie’s Spices on Facebook and am following them on twitter (@FLMOMSBLOG).
Thanks, Barb and I’m so glad we met!
Mmmm roast. I’ll have to cook this so I can make Shepherd’s pie right 🙂
I would love a Herbie’s spice kit.
recently I have fallen in love with star anise… but it’s hard to choose a favourite!
I like star anise too. I pop one in the rice cooker and the rice is wonderful.
Wow the roasted lamb shoulder looks really delicious! I don’t eat lamb much although my husband enjoys it. This spice kit sounds like a delicious and love how final lamb looks! YUM!
ahh it’s nearly midnight on the 13th, too late to enter?! My favorite spice is cinnamon. It’s so versatile, can be used in sweet, or savory but my absolute favorite way is sprinkled on rice pudding 🙂
ends at midnight in the US 🙂
I use lemon-garlic a lot being that I am now a homemade-salad-dressing-only gal. I also love the cumin and chili spices too.
Mau’, I absolutely love curry, but really have not cooked with it. I know there are many kinds, but would love to know more about how to use it and which kinds for what. Also, is tandoori just red food coloring, or is there something more to it? So, anyway, please sign me up for the contest. Robert doesn’t like curry, so I plan to make a lot of it when he’s not around. Here’s to separate houses!
I have never cooked with lamb, not a very common meat in our midst. Love the spice box, so neat and nicely packed. That’s a spice lovers dream! Now what masala are you planning to grind and mix Maureen? =P
Maureen – this sounds like an amazing time!! Wish I could put my hands on some of their spices. And of course you’re famous, so of course, they would have to have you there!
My favorite spice is smoked paprika.
I like lemon pepper and chili powder.