Carmel Valley Couple Opening Savory Spice Shop in Encinitas

Whether you’ve mastered the soufflé or are just trying to move beyond mac-and-cheese, there’s a new business coming to Encinitas that’s ready to help take your cooking skills to the next level.

Next month Savory Spice Shop will open its doors in the Lumberyard Shopping Center, and its mission is to help more locals enjoy the art of a good, home-cooked meal.

“This is about getting in the kitchen with your family and friends and bringing it back to the kitchen table,” says owner Stephanie Godfrey, who is opening the store with her husband, Jason Birn. The couple live in Carmel Valley.

The 900-square-foot storefront will carry about 400 herbs and 140 seasoning blends, which are made fresh weekly in small batches and have no fillers. The store will be organized according to what sort of cooking you want to do, such as grilling or baking. And if there’s something you’d like to sample, just ask.

“Customers can taste what they want and buy what they need—even if that’s just a teaspoon or half an ounce,” Godfrey says. Orders can also be made in bulk, which is handy for pubs or home beer enthusiasts who may be working on a special brew.

The inventory includes some harder-to-find ingredients, like citric acid and several varieties of saffron. If that sounds over your head, staff is happy help you get started and arm you with plenty of free recipe cards.

“Even if you just come in here and don’t buy anything, you can still leave with knowledge you can use,” Godfrey explains.

If you’re a more advanced cook, you’ll probably want to check out some of programming that is in the works, like a class with a tea sommelier who can teach you how to infuse your favorite cup with spices and herbs—some of which even have medicinal perks. There will also be regular tastings and demos, including one that will show you how to make your own gourmet mustard. Godfrey says she hopes to partner with local cookbook authors and chefs for some of those events, too.

The store will offer gift sets tailored to different sorts of cooks, like the steak-lover or the avid baker—and an entire line for the holiday season.

“One of my favorite sets is called the Keys to the Cupboard because it has virtually every staple you’d ever need, so it makes a great housewarming gift,” Godfrey says, adding that orders can be customized with personalized labels for weddings and special occasions.

Savory Spice Shop is Godfrey’s first business venture—something she decided to do after walking away from her human resources career in corporate America. She said it was her love of interacting with people and her passion for cooking that led her to Savory Spice Shop, a national franchise with more than 20 locations. The Encinitas location will be the first in the San Diego County.

“When we were searching for the right spot, my husband and I explored all of North County and San Diego. But we settled on Encinitas because we love the sense of community you feel here. It just feels like everyone is rooting for each other. We’re so excited to be in Encinitas, and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get involved in the community.”

Keeping in that vein, Godfrey and her husband plan to spend the next several weeks at the every Sunday and the every Wednesday so they can meet locals face-to-face. 

Godfrey anticipates the store will have a soft opening the second week of September, and host a grand opening later this fall. Savory Spice Shop is located at 937 S. Coast Highway 101, suite C 110 (in between Blue Ribbon Pizzeria and ).

Patch will keep you posted with more updates as they become available. Visit facebook.com/SavorySpiceShopEncinitas.