‘Secret’ store that only sells pantry and kitchen buys that are ‘impossible’ to find launches in Australia – sending home cooks flocking through its doors
- A popular specialty ingredient store has opened up on Sydney’s North Shore
- The Essential Ingredient only sells niche products that are difficult to find
- Foodies are obsessed with the imported and local items in the Crows Nest store
Foodies are raving about a new store in Sydney that only sells specialty ingredients which are difficult to find anywhere else.
Gone are the days of checking 10 different supermarkets to find the final ingredient you need for a recipe, the Essential Ingredient stocks a range of had to get premium items.
The products, imported and local, include everything from Tasmanian bush honey to rare Mexican chillies, and a range of 93 herbs and spices.
The brand has delighted locals by returning its flagship store to Crows Nest on Sydney’s North Shore; it hasn’t been open since 2010.
Foodies are raving about a new Sydney store that only sells specialty ingredients which are difficult to find anywhere else
The products, imported and local, include everything from Tasmanian bush honey to rare Mexican chillies, and a range of 93 herbs and spices
The Essential Ingredient has been sourcing specialty ingredients for Australians since it first opened in 1986, and it now has six popular branches.
Some bestselling products include rose harissa, urfa chilli flakes, dried black limes, squid ink, dried rose petals and black truffle salsa.
The store stocks well-loved local delicacies such as specialty chocolate from Zokoko, Ferguson’s lobster infused olive oil and preserved Australian fruits.
It also sells hard to find international products like Italian pasta I Due Pastori, French preserved snails, French Breton biscuits and Thai shrimp paste.
The store stocks well-loved local delicacies and hard to find international products like Italian pasta I Due Pastori, French preserved snails, French Breton biscuits and Thai shrimp paste
Fans of the store praise it for being ‘surprisingly cheap’, prices range from $3 to $430.
The Essential Ingredient also has a range of gift hampers, cookware, tableware and recipe books on offer, and provide free recipes on their site.
They often host intimate events at the flagship store, including recipe book launches with chefs and cooking demonstrations.
‘We wanted a special, comfortable, non-intimidating space to inspire,’ Peter Walmsley, the company’s director, told Broadsheet.
‘We hope walking through and speaking with our incredible staff makes you excited about the idea of cooking something you’ve never cooked before.’
‘We’re keen for the kitchen to be a hub of activity beyond formal events, whether it’s cooking our weekly recipes for our Instagram and email newsletters, or testing out a new product.’
The Essential Ingredient often host intimate events at the flagship store, including recipe book launches with chefs and cooking demonstrations
Fans of the store have been raving about it since the early 2000s when it was first in Crows Nest.
‘It has a great variety of specialised kitchen utensils and is surprisingly cheap for a small shop. Got my pasta maker from there!’ one man said.
‘A very well stocked shop with an amazing selection of products. Friendly, helpful staff,’ another wrote.
‘Absolutely helpful and knowledgeable! Had a great experience and the staff went above and beyond to help me,’ another said.
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