I live in Baltimore City, and when I drive miles down MD-45, York Road, it takes me into the world of suburbia, Baltimore County. And sometimes I just want to be there because it smells really, really good out there.

Yes, I said it smells good.

Because I know that if I keep driving I will hit the epicenter, which is Baltimore County's version of Potomac, aptly called Hunt Valley (still known by old-school natives as Cockeysville). I’ve run smack into the town that houses the one of the largest spice distributors and makers in the world: McCormick Company’s manufacturing plant. You know McCormick’s well: they’re the giant seasoning, extracts and spices brand. They make the kinds of seasonings your mother used in those delicious cakes and cookies you only ate on Thanksgiving and never savored again for the rest of the year. Trust me; you can smell the nutmeg heavy in the air out in Hunt Valley.

            But if you’re Mama or Nana was too busy making a spicy rub for her jerk chicken or making an elaborate arroz con pollo, and wasn’t even thinking about cookies, she probably wasn’t using McCormick brand seasonings to flavor it up. She was either concocting her own recipe from her garden of herbs and spices, or, maybe…just maybe…

         …She was at the supermarket searching high and low for some Badia stuff.

            Voted on by Hispanic Business Magazine as one the Top 500 Hispanic-Owned brands in 2007, Badia has been gracing the shelves of both small, international food stores in Hispanic and Caribbean communites as well as national chain grocery stores. Their mission statement on their website packs a punch:

            “Badia strives to be the strongest ethnic line of spices in the marketplace, with the most competitive prices and an exceptional selection of products for consumers to choose from.”

            The strongest ethnic line of spices in the marketplace? Yeah, no kidding. For me, you win, hands down. (A hot debate topic, but definitely not a good topic on an empty stomach: others argue for the Goya brand in this category.) I first met the Badia brand at a dinner party in Brooklyn and I can happily say we have been friends ever since.

            My only gripe? Limited distribution! Badia is not available in the Midwest or even the West Coast at all.  I mean, can your brand be “the strongest” line of ethnic spices if distribution is limited? I’m hoping I can get a podcast interview with the marketing team or even the CEO to find out more about this.

            Because I mean, really…

Shouldn’t everyone be able to enjoy a dish with a little Chimichurri steak sauce on it?

Come on now, people…taste the love.