An essential element for enjoyable and successful cooking is having a well-stocked pantry filled with the most valuable foundational items. These on-hand products will give you, the inspired cook, the versatility to prepare fabulous, flavorful, healthy food at a moment’s notice and fairly effortlessly.

	~  Kosher salt  ~  Sea salt (Maldon is the best)  ~  Tellicherry peppercorns  ~  Olive Oil for cooking  ~  2-3 EV Olive Oils for condiment use  ~  Balsamic vinegar, red and white  ~  Champagne vinegar  ~  Dried and Powdered Chiles  ~  Chicken stock in carton (look for low-sodium brands) ~ Vegetable stock in carton (look for low-sodium brands) ~ Nuts: dry roasted, no salt or flavor added: almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts ~ Seeds: pumpkin, sunflower, flax, sesame ~ Miso paste ~ Capers packed in salt ~ Panko bread crumbs ~ Stoneground Cornmeal (Golden Pheasant brand) ~ All Purpose flour ~ Rices: Jasmine, Basmati, Carnaroli, one brown rice ~ Dried Pasta: plain penne, capellini, fettuccine ~ Canned beans packed in water (Muir Glen) ~ Canned tomatoes with low sodium (Muir Glen or Pomi brands) ~ Chile sauce ~ Dijon mustard

Keep on Hand:

	~  Couple heads of garlic  ~  Handful of shallots  ~  2-3 yellow onions  ~  Frozen spinach  ~  Frozen artichoke hearts

Space permitting, then add in:

	~  Nut and specialty oils: walnut oil, corn oil, sesame oil  ~  Blood Orange and Meyer Lemon Olive Oil  ~  Tuna, anchovies and sardines packed in olive oil  ~  Green and black olives, oil-cured or in brine

Favorite Elements of Taste Pantry links:

-B R Cohn Olive Oil Company Estate olive oils, wine vinegars
-Da Vero Estate grown Extra-Virgin Olive Oils plus other artisan products
-Katy’s Smokehouse delicious hand-packed smoked fish
-Rancho Gordo’s New World Specialty heirloom beans, chiles, spices
-Spectrum Organics corn oil, canola oil and other cooking oils
-The Cheesemaker’s Daughter extraordinary cheeses and more
-The Olive Press specialty Extra-Virgin olive oils and tapenades
-Tierra Vegetables sustainably grown smoked and dried chiles
-Vella Cheese Company’s, award-winning handmade cheeses