The Pantry on Tap

Photos by K.Redmond Photography

7634 S Westnedge Ave, Portage www.thepantryontap.com

Summer is winding down, and it’s back to school soon (a big HOORAY to all of the parents who homeschooled the last year or more!). If you are looking for a unique gift for your children’s teachers, or simply looking to stock up on some items for weekly dinners, look no further than The Pantry on Tap.

I talk about restaurants all of the time, but I also really love to cook. If you are looking to jazz up your spice rack or simply looking for something new to cook, Portage has a hidden gem of a store called The Pantry on Tap. I would much rather support a local shop for my spices from here on out; their selection of Oils and Spices is incredible. I love their selection of summer-inspired vinegars from pineapple, peach, pear, tangerine, jalapeno lime, coconut, espresso, and so many more. If you love to grill, they just introduced a new Smokehouse line with Smoked Barrel Aged Balsamic, Maple-Wood Smoked Bacon infused olive oil, and a Bourbon Barrel Aged Balsamic.

The Pantry on Tap is a gourmet store with a European touch, specializing in oils, vinegar, herbs, spices, and fine foods imported from around the globe. Whether you enjoy food, love cooking, or are looking for a unique gift, they have all you need!

• Regional Olive Oils from Greece, Spain,

Morocco, Italy, Lebanon, and California • Naturally-flavored Olive Oils • Heart-healthy pressed nut, fruit, & seed oils • Aged traditional & naturally-flavored

White and Dark Balsamic Vinegar • More than 150 herbs, spices, and flavored sugars and salts in bulk • Gourmet pastas, sauces, dips, and spreads

4950 Wilson Ave SW Grandville, MI 49418 616.538.8885 www.familysewing.com

Are you looking for gift ideas? The

Pantry has a wide variety of options for all budgets! And if you just feel like having a unique shopping trip, they usually have samples out. You can even ask to taste a specific dip or sauce that you find interesting! The Pantry is the perfect place to go for gourmet foods, gifts, kitchen and home goods, spices, and much more! They are always adding new products and are dedicated to offering as many Michiganmade items as possible. Stop in to taste and get personalized recommendations from our friendly and knowledgeable staff.

The Pantry on Tap offers a wide selection of bulk herbs, spices, salts, sugars, and wellness supplements. Buy a little or a lot - there’s no minimum required! From delicious blends like Piri Piri and Za’atar to hard-to-find spices like Fenugreek, Ceylon Cinnamon, and Spanish Saffron to flavored salts and sugars, you’ll find everything you need. And if we don’t have what you’re looking for instore, they can special order it for you when possible. The Pantry also offers popular seasonings from Alden Mill House, Olivelle, and more. When you purchase items, you can ask for a recipe card or visit their website for inspiration before visiting the store.

While The Pantry on Tap loves and specializes in imported foods and exotic flavors, even more than that, they love our home state of Michigan and the Kalamazoo/ Portage area! They have a fantastic collection of local products to support Michigan businesses and show their regional pride. Fine foods, spices, collectibles, dishware, glassware, and much more make up this amazing selection. Check out items from Peninsulas, Alden Mill House, Noomoon, Opulent Blends, West Michigan Pasta Provisions, and more!

If you are overwhelmed by the options, the staff at The Pantry is incredible and will help you put together the perfect gift basket or help you gather items for something new for dinner!

I recently stopped by to grab some items for their Shrimp Scampi recipe and discovered

Pasta Rocks for the first time. Simply add a pasta rock to your boiling water for a few minutes, remove and add your pasta! A fun and unique way to salt the water, and you can reuse them.

The Pantry is conveniently located on S. Westnedge Avenue in Portage, near Chocolatea. They also own Chocolatea, and if you haven’t been, do yourself a favor and try their Boba Tea or grab some loose-leaf teas (same set up as The Pantry, only with tea!). If it is your first time visiting The Pantry, mention it to them, and you can get a FREE bottle of Oil or Vinegar, and make sure to sign up for their Loyalty card. With every purchase, you get money back towards another in-store purchase!

Rachel has worked in all levels of the food industry for over a decade. She is currently a Social Media Influencer, Content Creator and Restaurant Reviewer. You can visit her at thekalamazoofoodie.com.