Staff Spotlight: Ella

Meet AllSpicer Ella, who recently joined the Iowa River Landing AllSpice team in Coralville. We asked her all of the usual hard-hitting questions to help you get to know her better. 

How did you originally learn about AllSpice?

I found out about the opening when I was preparing to return to the University of Iowa for the fall. It seemed like a great opportunity to use my knowledge - I previously worked with olive oils and vinegars - and to learn more about spices and how they are used. 

What do you like to cook?

I enjoy cooking seafood dishes. I lived near the gulf coast for a while and I love anything with shrimp, fish, and vegetables. I also love to bake. It's. fun to try new and different dessert recipes.

What do you like most about working at AllSpice?

I love getting to know our customers and learning what spices and ingredients they use in their cooking. It is very cool to see how different everyone’s cooking style is. I have learned a lot from them and I love being able to use my own experience to help a customer find the right ingredient for their recipe.

What’s your favorite food?

I love comfort food and my favorites are soups - they remind me of cozy fall and winter days. I definitely have a sweet tooth and, with my baking habit, cookies are a favorite.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I've lived in several different states because I come from a military family. Moving around the country has been a really fun part of my life and it’s given me a lot of great experiences and memories! 

What do you like to do when you’re not at the shop?

When I’m not at the shop, I love to go on walks and read. I absolutely love the outdoors so it’s always fun to try new trails or parks. Reading is a great way to relax in my spare time.

What’s your favorite guilty (culinary) pleasure?

My favorite guilty pleasure is definitely chocolate, especially dark chocolate! Any cookie or muffin recipe that includes chocolate sounds great to me. And I’m not afraid to add extra chocolate chips!

Do you have any pets?

I don't currently, but I hope to have a golden retriever after I graduate. AllSpicer Tricia might have found herself a pup sitter for Babe!

Next time you're in the shop ask Ella for advice with the oils and vinegars - she's a pro!