The Toasted Onion Herb blend was my first Victoria Gourmet spice. My grandmother had found it at TJ Maxx and purchased it, and after she had passed, it became mine. At first, this jar and herb mix was special to me based solely on that reasoning alone, it was hers and then it became mine. Then, I began to use it.
Many years ago, shortly after Lipton had come out with those "Onion"/"Beefy Onion" herb packets, my mother purchased one and used it to make "Souper Burgers" and our household loved it. I figured the ingredients of the Lipton packet would be similar to the jar of spices now in my possession, and so I decided to make the recipe myself. It was spectacular. I began to think, if this herb mix could do that well with the burgers, what else can it do? I began to add it to anything that I would use onions or onion seasoning; meatloaf, salisbury steak, soups and stocks, french onion dip, chicken dishes, mushroom dishes, whatever. You name it, I'd throw in a teaspoon of Toasted Onion Herb mix.
Before the year was over, I found myself scraping the bottom of that little 5oz jar that I thought I would never use all of and wondering what I was going to do when it was out. I had gotten it from my grandmother, who had left the TJ Maxx sticker on it, but I knew TJ Maxx rotates stock and I highly doubted they would have it again. I noticed on the jar that there was a website, and I took a chance of checking out the Victoria Gourmet website.
It was like I had opened some portal to a whole new world of culinary experiences. There were so many herb and spice mixes, and they all seemed so wonderful that my mouth was watering simply looking over the site for the first time. There were herb and spice mixes, singular spices that I had never heard of, or had heard of once in an obscure recipe that I had always wanted to try, loose leaf teas, everything my heart and soul could have dreamed of was here on the Victoria Gourmet website, along with my precious Toasted Onion Herb mix.
Of course, I first purchased the Toasted Onion Herb mix, and it was just as perfect as the bottle I had gotten from my grandmother. After finishing that jar within 6 months, I began to order not just the Toasted Onion Herb, but other spices that caught my eye, the Bacon Glaze/Ham Glaze, the Herbes de Provence, the Adobo Verde, the Garlic Grilled Vegetable/Cracked black Pepper Rub, and others.
The Toasted Onion Herb has earned its rightful place among my prized spices spice rack (which only has 9 spots, and five of which are dedicated to Victoria Gourmet spices), and I now gauge my annual orders of spices based on the level of my Toasted Onion Herb (this method helps to keep me from overspending).
My point is, the Toasted Onion Herb is definitely a kitchen staple you should have in your spice/herb repertoire, whether you're a serious chef, or just cooking a few days a week. It's basic and versatile, and you won't regret it.
