Do you love to cook? Do you like to try new flavors and recipes? Or maybe you are in a cooking rut and don’t know how to start expanding your cooking repertoire. Join the Spice Club and take your cooking to the next level with featured spices and recipes to infuse excitement and flavor into every style of meal!

The Loomis Library Spice Club hosts monthly meetings to enhance our understanding and appreciation of different cultures through the lens of spices. Each month we explore a different region, a featured spice blend, ancient grains, and more! We will provide vegetarian recipes highlighting the featured regional cuisine and sample the recipes provided.

How it works:

Each month the library will provide a spice kit curriculum package that can be picked up at the monthly meeting (see dates below) or during normal business hours after the meeting date. Preregister for one or all workshops!

Each kit will include:

• Information and history of a featured spice, spice blend, ancient grains, and more! We will explore regional cuisine and cultures, and botanical information of the featured spice.
• Two or more recipes featuring the spice or spice blend.
• Pre-measured samples of the spice, spice blend, or ancient grain, for the recipes.
  *while supplies last

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 at 5:45pm
Spice: Baharat & Pumpkin – the Perfect Pair
Discover the cozy combination of baharat’s warm, aromatic spices and pumpkin’s rich, earthy sweetness. We’ll explore how this versatile Middle Eastern spice blend can transform pumpkin into delicious soups, stews, savory dishes, and more. You’ll taste the possibilities and learn creative ways to bring these warming flavors to your fall table.

Tuesday, October 20th, 2026 at 5:45pm
Saffron: The Golden Spice
Explore the fascinating world of saffron—the precious golden threads that bring distinctive flavor, aroma, and color to the kitchen. We’ll journey from growing saffron locally and harvesting the delicate threads to discovering its many culinary uses in both traditional and contemporary dishes.

Tuesday, November 24th, 2026 at 5:45pm
All About Alliums
Get to know the flavorful family of alliums, from familiar favorites to lesser-known gems. We’ll explore the distinctive qualities of chives, leeks, shallots, green garlic, and more, and discover how these versatile ingredients can add depth, sweetness, and savory flavor to everyday cooking. Come chop, taste, and savor the wonderful world of alliums!

Tuesday, December 15th, 2026 at 5:45pm
Cardamom: Sweet & Savory Holiday Magic
Warm, fragrant, and wonderfully versatile, cardamom is a holiday spice that deserves the spotlight. We’ll explore how this aromatic spice can add an intriguing twist to both sweet and savory dishes. Together, we’ll create recipes that showcase cardamom’s distinctive flavor and discover new ways to use it throughout the holiday season.