Kalustyan's, an iconic spice market in New York City, is the ultimate source for spices, chiles, grains, nuts, chocolate, cookware and all sorts of food things Middle Eastern, South Asian and other cuisines with a strong spice bent. It is one of my all-time favorite places to shop and get inspired to cook.

They are constantly expanding their inventory, so shopping there is always an adventure. If you want curry powder, they have classic Madras, but also Javanese, West Indian, Sri Lankan, or spicy Vindaloo as well as many others. The problem is, I hate to just pick one, so I usually get three or four. If I come with a list of, say, eight items, invariably I leave with triple that. Since I travel by subway, I am limited by what I can carry, but you would be amazed how many bags I can carry!

The staff is incredibly helpful, charming and knowledgeable; it is hard to get in and out of Kalustyan's without a deep I-love-New-York feeling. Luckily, they have an awesome website and offer delivery all over the country so you can get inspired as well.