New Spices on the Block

It’s not often that a product lives up to its boastful name, exceptions to that rule being Blair’s Death Sauces, Dave’s Insanity Sauces, and this one, Just Simply Good Stuff. I enjoy trying and reviewing locally or family-owned products like I do with Big Daddy Jake’s Hot Sauces. Just Simply Good Stuff is now on that list with their collection of seasonings, salts, and spice rubs (and don't forget the chili mix).

Recently, my wife and I had the pleasure of trying four of JSGS’s seasonings on some grilled chicken strips. All of the rubs were great, some better than the others.

Let’s get down to business. As with many other small spice or sauce manufacturers, it is important for them to use high-quality ingredients. That is the feeling I get when I open the packets of Mediterranean Medley and Original Rub. Unlike other giant mega-corporations who grind their spices to a fine powder and use mostly salt, JSGS uses fresh spices ground coarsely. I like to see what I'm getting, and in a way, the coarse-ground spices lend an air of fanciness to the rubs.

The Mediterranean Medley, a delicious blend of garlic, onion, and oregano, was my absolute favorite. The salt level was low, allowing just enough to enhance the flavors of the other spices. The same was true with JSGS’s Original Rub. Both of these really surprised me with their range of flavors.

JSGS also bottles a couple of blends of special salts than can enhance the flavor of meats, one of which is the Smokey Mesquite Salt. Anything to enhance the barbeque experience gets immediate attention from me. Mesquite is my favorite smoking wood, so the attraction was natural. The use of the Smoky Mesquite salt would be used best when cooking meats indoors, especially those folks who do not have grills. This salt contains soy and mesquite flavor. It’s sort of a crystallized version of liquid smoke.

My wife’s favorite is the Lemon-Lime Salt. It was excellent on chicken and vegetables, but it has a hidden talent that Robin of JSGS shared with me: rimming a margarita glass. The label even suggests doing the same for a bloody mary glass. These applications were great! I respect that kind of outside-the-box thinking that JSGS suggests.

I could not find anything wrong with these seasoning, and I wish you could find quality products like these in local grocery stores. Just Simply Good Stuff is not just a clever marketing phrase. It's the truth.