The 15 Best Foods at Cost Plus World Market
Photo by Shutterstock1/16A Treasure Trove of Interesting International Foods
The national furniture emporium is known for its eclectic and affordable selection of home goods, but it also offers a range of hard-to-find foods from around the world, like Yorkshire Gold tea from England and Kewpie mayonnaise from Japan. Here are some of our favorites.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market2/16Yorkshire Gold Black Tea
I start every morning with a cup of this strong British tea, which I like milky and sweet. If, like me, you're not a coffee drinker, and depend on tea for a good shot of wake-me-the-heck-up caffeine, this tea will do the trick—plus it's so smooth and delicious, I won't go anywhere without it. (Seriously, my friends tease me for carrying a Ziploc of these tea bags around in my purse.) Usually, I can only find Yorkshire Gold online, but it's right there on the shelf at my local Cost Plus.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market3/16Talatta Anchovy Fillets in Olive Oil
Unlike my colleague Adina, I'm not an insane, no-holds-barred anchovy fan. You won't catch me putting it on top of my pizza, but I do like to melt an anchovy or two in olive oil or butter to toss with pasta or use as a pan sauce. It just adds a bit of nutty saltiness that intensifies all the other flavors in the dish. I love how these olive oil–packed fillets are packaged in a jar rather than a tin—it makes it so much easier when you can just take out however many fillets you want, twist the top of the jar back on, and stick the remaining anchovies in the fridge so they'll be there when you need them.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market4/16Café Du Monde Coffee and Chicory
This is the same mild, nutty blend of coffee and chicory served at Café du Monde, the famous outdoor cafe in New Orleans. A remnant of the state's French colonial days, chicory coffee is especially good with lots of milk or even sweetened condensed milk (and it's the preferred blend for making Vietnamese iced coffee). To replicate the restaurant's beloved café au lait, use a ratio of half milk and half hot brewed chicory coffee. In summer, brew it double-strength and serve over ice with a floater of half-and-half. (And if you're ever in New Orleans on a particularly hot day, stop by the cafe for a life-giving frozen café au lait made with this blend.)
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market5/16Japanese-Style Curry Sauce
If you haven't tried Japanese-style curry before, it's a revelation. And this sauce helps it come together in a near-instant.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market6/16Sharwood's Major Grey Mango Chutney
Pick up a bottle of mango chutney and use it to make salad dressing, Food Director Rhoda Boone's genius kid-friendly chicken dinner, or these crazy hot dogs.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market7/16Chiquilin Pimentón Ahumado (Smoked Paprika)
An essential ingredient in classic Spanish dishes like paella and patatas bravas, pimentón (aka smoked paprika) can also be used to add a smoky, almost meaty flavor to vegetarian dishes, like this shockingly good veg version of devils on horseback.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market8/16Huy Fong Chili Paste Sambal Oelek
Use this bright-red Indonesian chili paste in stir-fries, on eggs, in a marinade for pork, or as a glaze for grilled chicken.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market9/16Matcha Love Culinary Matcha
Blend this antioxidant-packed green tea powder into smoothie bowls and white (well, green) hot chocolate, or simply whisk with hot water to form a jade-green, aromatic cup of, you know, matcha.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market10/16Al Wadi Rose Water
With origins that date back to ancient Greece and Persia, rose water is one of the world's oldest flavoring agents. We like to add it to cake glazes and cookies, or even lovely, summery cocktails.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market11/16Torino Rainbow Farfalline Mini Pasta
It's bow-tie pasta, it's rainbow-striped, and your kids will freaking love it. Top it with butter, some grated Parm, and maybe a handful of peas, and that's dinner right there.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market12/16Kewpie Mayonnaise Squeeze Bottle
Kewpie mayo is a household ingredient in Japan. Not only is the condiment thinner, tangier, and slightly more savory than regular mayonnaise (due to the fact that it's made with an extract related to umami-rich MSG), but the bottle is also way more fun—my coworker Adina likened squeezing it to "squishing a little baby," an inarguably irresistible pastime. Use it to top okonomiyaki, a type of savory pancake, or try it in your regular potato salad recipe for a welcome change of pace.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market13/16Mustapha's Harissa
I love to spoon some of this Tunisian spice paste into beaten eggs before cooking them into a scramble, but harissa is also fantastic as a rub for roast chicken, as a flavoring for a crispy sheet-pan fish dinner, or as a sweet-and-spicy glaze for roasted vegetables.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market14/16Cocovie Chocolate Coconut Spread
Made with just four ingredients (coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut nectar, and cacao powder), this chocolatey spread is like a healthier version of Nutella. I like to eat it on a piece of toast in the morning (it would be amazing on an English muffin) or, um, just stand in my kitchen and dip pretzels into it.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market15/16The traditional accompaniment to North Carolina barbecue, cheerwine is a beloved, extra-carbonated cherry-flavored soda that dates back to World War I. It can be hard to find outside of the Southeast, so stock up when you see it.
Photo courtesy of Cost Plus World Market16/16Alstertor Dusseldorf Mustard
I first bought this spicy German mustard at an old-school smokehouse in New York that makes the world's best landjäger, a type of dry sausage similar to beef jerky, but a million times better. The mustard is smooth and sharp—perfect for sandwiches or for slathering on hot dogs. (Plus it comes in an adorable teeny tiny glass beer stein.)
