Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Moore.
Jessica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always loved to cook (and eat!). So much so that when I was small, my father built me a special step-stool so I could reach the stove — I was off and cooking!
My love of food and the stories people tell about their favorite dishes led me to found Portland Spice Co., a popular spice and international grocery store at the former Portland Public Market in Portland, Maine.
This was all a long-time ago now — but, I started Portland Spice when I was young. And after being in business for several years, when the Public Market closed, I decided to leave what had become Portland Spice to explore new avenues of interest — including; getting married; receiving a masters, working as a deckhand on the ferry; volunteering for a non-profit and adopting a comic yellow lab!
It was a long road – and it led me back to where I began. I found that I missed the tactile and total sensory experience of grinding, blending and designing spice blends. I also missed hearing and learning about the cooking histories of people who also love to cook and eat.
I decided to start a little business that was dedicated to my own spice blends — spice blends and rubs are the most fun part of the spice business! Looking back on it, I think it was kind of inevitable that I would return to playing with spices.
The one question people ask me the most: Who is Regina? Well, Regina is my middle name and my mother’s middle name, but the original Regina is my maternal grandmother. She passed away long before I was born; I believe her spirit lives through those dishes that she taught my mother to cook and my mother, in turn, taught me to cook.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No road, I guess, is completely smooth. Overall, I think ReginaSpices has had a pretty smooth road — I started on a shoestring and that has its own issues but I think, my biggest obstacle is that I get distracted easily.
I’ll write a business or marketing plan and have the next few months all planed out and BOOM out of nowhere, someone makes a suggestion that moves me away from my plan — and I follow it (their suggestion) — almost compulsively. And, every time I do it – it costs me — in time or money or energy. I have to strike a balance between being open to new ideas and staying on track. I have learned to slow-down and consult my notes and my business plan before making any decision that alters my course.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with ReginaSpices – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
ReginaSpices creates proprietary spice blends and rubs. We live in a very busy, high stress society– my goal is to make blends that help people WANT to cook after working eight+ hours.
I’m known for specific blends – new ones like Jalapeno-Lime Salt and some that have been around for a while, like Sweet Smokey Fire and Shiitake Steak Rub. It’s funny, after I left Portland Spice and before I started ReginaSpices, my old customers would stop me on the street and ask me specifically for Sweet Smokey Fire and Shiitake Steak Rub.
Also, I am very fussy about my ingredients and I grind and blend in small batches as a result, my blends are known for being full-bodied and long lasting.
For the past couple of summers, I have worked with a local herb farmer. I created a special blend using her herbs — it’s addicting and very hard to make enough! I love working with a local farmer and I am exploring new ways I can incorporate more locally grown herbs in my blends.
What sets me apart? I honestly believe that my blends are superior, I have a good palate. My general spice knowledge is extensive. I LOVE chatting with customers about cooking. In general, I LOVE what I do!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
No big changes. I’d like to develop my on-line mail order business. As I mentioned earlier, I’d like to find more ways to work with local farmers.
Pricing:
- 2oz spice jars $5.00
- 4oz spice jars $7.00
- Dip mixes $3.50
Contact Info:
- Address: 47 Edgeworth Ave.
Portland, ME 0413 - Website: reginaspices.com
- Phone: 207-632-5544
- Email: regina@regianspcies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reginaspices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReginaSpices/
Image Credit:
Stephen McLaughlin, Jessica Moore
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