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Herbie's Spices
My grandparents, John & Rosemary Hemphill pioneered the herb and
spice industry in Australia in the 1950s, with a nursery, garden and
shop called Somerset Cottage. My
grandmother wrote the Penguin Book of Herbs in 1966, and she wrote
many books on the subject after that. My Dad, Ian 'Herbie', was influenced
from an early age, and has since become one of the world's foremost
experts on herbs and spices. We lived in Singapore in the 80s and
Mum has had many interesting 'holidays' to different corners of the
globe in search of spices and their origins.
| In 1997, Dad and Mum opened up Herbie's Spices, with the aim of
stocking every known variety of culinary herb and spice in its
highest quality and to create ‘The Ultimate Spice Experience’ for
consumers. |
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Their customers not only have access to
the largest and freshest range of dried herbs and spices, there is
also a wealth of information and educational
opportunites available for them, including Spice Appreciation
Classes, which I also run at Love to Cook.
I represent Herbie’s Spices in the UK, where they are
currently sold exclusively in Harvey Nichols. A select
range of
spices and spice kits are for sale at Love to Cook classes.
| Dad wrote the award-winning definitive guide to herbs and spices
in Spice Notes, A Cook’s Compendium. The book explains the
history, origin, cultivation, processing and use of over 100
herbs and spices. Not surprisingly, a second edition was
called for, and I was given the opportunity to write the recipes
for this one. This second edition, Spice Notes and
Recipes, launched in November 2006. |
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| Spice Notes is published in the USA
as The Spice and Herb Bible, second edition. The USA
version is also being distributed in the UK.
This has just WON BEST BOOK in the reference category at the IACP awards in Chicago (International Association of
Culinary Professionals). |
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www.herbies.com.au
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