Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices

Seriously so many freaking spices… If you are going to cook something I assure you that this place has something to hook it up.
The cajun went REALLY well with my shrimp and grits.

The best selection and service. The people there are so helpful and we have been able to find herbs and spices at Colonel De’s that no one else has! Love it!

I really like this place and what they do but the communication and customer service is seriously lacking. I have a Cajun spice that a friend used to make that is awesome. I had a little left, took it to them and they replicated it. Awesome!!! Had them make it numerous times. But, every time i went there for some reason there was always a problem finding the recipe. They always found it, no biggie until the last time. I went in asked to get some of my spice, the lady could not find it. Period. Then (even though she couldnt find it) asked me when I needed it by. I said, I just need a few ounces so was hoping you guys could just make it up for me now just like you always have. Answer: Well thats not gonna happen! Hmmm. They were not busy at all. She said they do that somewhere else. Ok cool. When can I get it? Answer: I have no idea. We have to find it first. A couple days later someone calls me back. He found it. Had no idea why she couldnt. I ordered it. I asked if it could go to Findlay Mkt. Yes, no problem. He said he would call me when it was there. Not a word. I called yesterday. It was ready. I asked if it was at Findlay Mkt. He said yes. I left work in Florence headed to Findlay Mkt. Guess what. It wasnt there. It is in Florence at another store the guy told me (where I had just driven from). I said I had called and they told me it was here. His exact words were, I dont know what to tell you. I walked away. Sorry that was so long. Bad customer service all the way around.

I received a sampling of some of their most loved spice blends, and I easily became an instant fan of Colonel De! For those of us who may not know how to expertly combine spices to make them shine, Colonel De has excellent blends to make you look like a culinary superhero. Within a month, I’d exhausted my reserves of their Parmegeddon (yes, just as epic as it sounds), so I visited their farmer’s market location to restock.
I was a little taken aback at just how vast their offerings are, to be honest. Feet and feet of case space housing spices from the common to exotic, inexpensive to elite. From blends to single spices. All spices are sold by the ounce, and a little goes a long way. I ordered three ounces of Parmegeddon, and it will last me quite some time. Don’t know where to start? Fret not. The staff is so friendly and more than willing to direct you. They also have sampler packs that allow to to try a number of different ones without breaking the bank, AND there’s a spice club. For a yearly fee, and some preferences noted, you get different spices every month or so. Neat!
I use these blends on freaking everything… roasted veggies, fresh tomatoes, sautées, etc. you can’t go wrong, especially when supporting local business like these folks.

Every spice you could ever think of and 40 more. Want paprika? They have like 7 different ones! Garlic — granules, powder, california, roasted? OOohhh, and their spice mixes are to die for. The 007 and Persian Gold are my all time favorites.

Colonel De’s is the ultimate spice shop! They are my go to when I’m looking for a unique blend to add to a meal. Their staff is quite knowledgeable too. I always keep the Holy Smokes seasoning on hand. They have everything from rose salt blocks that you cook on to sugar blends for drinks and desserts. If you are unsure what spice to pair with what meat, just ask and the staff will direct you to the perfect one. The dried Persian limes are a favorite of mine for lamb. I suggest a visit if you’ve never been! They have spices for every flavor pallet.

Every spice you can think of and the staff is so friendly and helpful! You can smell everything!!! Also they’re available online!

Neat little spice and seasonings shop in the Findlay Market. It was our first time at the market so we walked the entire length and Colonel De is at the end… glad we found it. It is very much like the Penzey’s that we have in the Chicago area and in some ways even better. Prices were very reasonable and the number of seasoning blends was large.
We picked up some Buckeye Sugar Blend, Sam Adams Summer Ale Rub, Okie Dokie Seasoning, and a grilling assortment of 12 rubs and spices. Besides having a creative mind for naming their blends, they had a nice layout of the merchandise and numerous gift packages for purchase. Nice service from the laid back employees. We will return here on our next trip to Cincinnati… a great find in the Findlay Market.

Completely awesome.
I love how the whole experience gets me energized for cooking! Enthusiastic knowledgeable staff, the aroma of unique spice blends, the ‘buzz’ of folks interested in food– I leave happy, and ready to try out some new flavors.

I go to Findlay Market a LOT and I used to walk by Colonel De, partly because I like to make my own spice blends and partly because it projects the sort of laid-​back disorganization that I associate with head shops from the ‘70s. Wish I’d discovered it sooner. Great for locating hard-​to-​find ingredients, but much more valuable as a source for new cooking ideas. They have a seemingly unlimited number of creative blends and a staff that knows how to use them.
Stop here after you’ve bought your protein or main ingredient. Doesn’t matter if you have a notion of what you’re planning to do – say, an Asian theme for duck breasts – or if you have no idea at all; you’ll go home with something unlike anything you’ve prepared before. Fairly expensive by the ounce compared to bulk spices, but you buy exactly what you need so there is no waste.
Be sure to try the Old Bourbon Trail steak rub. Amazing!

The selection of herbs & spices are literally out of this world. One can find just about any herb, spice, or combination they want. Prices are reasonable and employees are very courteous and helpful. Love it!

This place is the bomb! The staff is so kind and knowledgable. They have a huge selection and it’s amazing for every kind of cooking. I highly highly recommend this place. So sooo good.

Besides my friends, the thing I miss most about Cincinnati is Colonel De’s! You want it, they probably got it. Excellent customer service and love that you can purchase spices in the quantity you need. I also love that you can sniff all the goods on the counter… a great way to find something new to try.
I have tried countless items there, but my personal favorite spice blend is the Okie Dokie mix.

Everything and anything you can think of you can find here. I’m a food enthusiast and I love to try new recipes using spices & flavors from all different cuisines. Absolutely any spice that you need you will be able to find here.
PROS: Nothing beats fresh spices, you can always buy as little or as much as you’ll need for a single dish instead of having to purchase those spices that have sat at the shelf at the grocery store. As obscure as you think a spice might be, the staff here will sure to help you find it. Even if you don’t really know what you want, the staff is always extremely helpful in providing suggestions for you to try.
CONS: The spices are sold in plastic baggies, which can get somewhat messy if you buy a large number of them. I usually transfer my spices to small spice jars from IKEA and they seem to keep them fairly fresh.
TIP: For your next cookout, splurge on a good smoked salt for a high quality steak (which you can buy at Findlay as well). We purchased this extremely rare smoked Norwegian Viking salt to top off some our steaks and they were UNBELIEVABLE! I mean out of this world amazing. The salt was on the pricey side ($ 10 per ounce) however you only need very little of it since the flavor is so potent. We used half an ounce for three large steaks and that was more than enough.

Like everything else in Findlay Market– this place is amazing. I like to make my own spice blends, and this place has anything you might need! They also have their own spice blends, which I haven’t tried, but I’m sure are good. The quality of the herbs is what sets this place apart, so it is worth it.

I love this place!
About a year ago, I was one of those «I’ll just get my spices at the grocery store» kind of guy. Well, I still have some spices from the grocery store because they refuse to run out, but every time I’m in need of some more spices, I go here!
I always seem to be approached by the older guy (almost looks like the guy in the logo — coincidence?) — he’s a little intimidating, but great with his spicies. I’ll tell him what I want, and you’ll respond with «No, you don’t» (all matter of-​fact). And sure enough, he’s right. He always suggests something else, something better! You tell him what you’re making, and what your looking for, and he’ll give you a better option!
Also, just so you know — they don’t just have your regular spicies, they have some that you wouldn’t normally find such as star anise, and they have options, like Italian & Egyptian Oregano (I suggest Egyptian), and they have a lot of pre-​mixed blends for specific uses.
So, seriously, go there, tell them what your making, and get your spices!

So you’re at Findlay market, or the new Jungle Jim’s at Eastgate. You just bought some meat and vegetables because, hey, it’s Findlay market, release your inner foodie! But then you get that «in in way over my head» feeling because you’ve never actually roasted a duck before and you aren’t really sure what parsnips even taste like. What are you going to do?!
The friendly, mustache rocking, Cornel D will save you. I (and maybe you too) know nothing about spices and would waste all that amazing fresh food I bought by smothering it with BBQ sauce. This guy knows spices. His staff knows spices too. He’s going to make you look like an excellent cook. He even makes excellent cooks look like even more excellent cooks. The things is; he doesn’t just stick his nose in the air and tell you how exotic and wonderful his spices are (even though they are). He can teach you how to select and use them.
Since you’re at Findlay Market getting your fresh produce every weekend, you only need to buy a little bit of spice at a time. As a matter of fact, don’t stock up! If you buy in small quantities (they totally don’t mind), you’ll get the freshest spices and you can mix it up with new flavors every once in a while instead of using the same old jar of oregano that you inherited from your great grandmother.
Now you can take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy something home-​cooked to perfection.

Colonel De is a godsend. I usually like to make my own spice blends and rubs but let’s face it, it can get pretty pricey. This is your one stop shop where you can find anything without running up and down the aisles or from store to store.
They make all their own spices and when you walk up it can be a little intimidating. They have quite a selection. So I suggest telling them what you are making or what kind of flavor profile you like and they will help you narrow it down.
I love that everything is labeled with exactly what is in the containers. The word spice itself is so huge. Don’t forget that they have sugars and herbs too! One of my favorites is the lavender sugar. The possibilities are endless. I put it on some sugar cookies and also used it to make a nice craft cocktail.
Don’t be afraid to get creative. The prices are so cheap you can afford to! This place is a great find!

I can’t believe that I have not written a review on the Colonel yet. I have been going here for my spices ever since my first day of culinary school. I usually go during the week and when it isn’t busy love talking to the Col about his newest spices and especially about salts.
For those that are in the industry there is a discount.

They have everything! Including stuff you never knew existed. When you feel overwhelmed, their seasoning experts are happy to help.
Who would have guessed that I would buy $ 14 an ounce applewood smoke salt?
The apocalypse is some excellent spicy powder that goes great on everything and includes ghost peppers.

Colonel De is your one-​stop shop for herbs, spices, blends and more. If you need to up your food — give it a bang — this is the place to go.
This is a stand at Findlay market right near the door, across from Dojo Gelato. There have tons and tons and tons and tons (and so on) of glass containers full of spices. You can’t miss it. And I guarantee, whatever you need, they’ve got it.
They also are always making new blends every week, and it’s worth asking what they’ve got new in stock today.
Also chat with Colonel De Stewart, a real Kentucky Colonel who once worked for Colonel Sanders, and a heck of a nice guy. You can’t miss him either — he’s the dude with the mustache (in fact, his staff wear t-​shirts that read «The Man. The Myth. The Mustache.»)
The spices are cheap and flavorful so you can’t go wrong. The only issue is it can be packed on the weekend — and I mean packed. You may be waiting a bit to get your blend, but it’s totally worth it. Give it a go!